BJP Has Offered CM Post To Ajit, But Conditions Apply: Cong Leader's Claim Days After Pawars' 'Secret' Meet

Last week Ajit Pawar met his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Both leaders said it was just a family meeting.

Ajit Pawar orchestrated a rebellion against his party on July 2 to bag the Maharashtra Deputy CM's post in the Eknath Shinde government.

Source : PTI

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar on Wednesday claimed that PM Narendra Modi had offered Ajit Pawar the chief minister's post on the condition that he brings NCP president Sharad Pawar with him. The claim comes just days after the "secret" meeting between the two Pawars last week. However, both the bigwigs of the NCP who fell out earlier this year, sought to play down the meeting.

Ajit Pawar said that the meeting was apolitical and it was just a nephew meeting his uncle. Sharad Pawar's stance was similar. "There's nothing wrong in meeting one's family members," he said last week. At the same time, Sharad Pawar claimed that some of his "well-wishers" were trying to persuade him into allying with the BJP. He, however, was against it despite some leaders (led by Ajit) of NCP joining the BJP-Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra.

Earlier in the day, former CM and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan was quoted as saying by some media reports that the BJP was trying to lure Sharad Pawar away from the Maha Vikas Aghadi by offering him a position in the Union Cabinet. Chavan said that the Pawars' secret meeting at a bungalow owned by a businessman was about this offer. Chavan claimed that the senior Pawar had been offered the agriculture ministry and the post of the NITI Ayog's chairman. Chavan said that Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and NCP leader Jayant Patil (who was present at the Pawars' meeting) have also been offered central Cabinet positions. Chavan also said that Sharad Pawar had not accepted the BJP's offer.

The other MVA constituent, Shiv Sena (UBT), is not amused by the Pawars' "secret" meeting. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said it does not do well if leaders sit together and their followers fight on the streets. "Doubts should not be created in people's minds," he said.