‘If Nawaz Sharif And Modi Can Meet…’: Sena UBT, NCP On Sharad, Ajit Pawar’s ‘Secret Meeting’

Speculations were rife about a 'secret' meeting after Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar visited the residence of a businessman in Pune.

The Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Sunday denied any “secret meeting” between NCP stalwart Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday and later, Ajit Pawar leaving the same premises stirring a buzz of a ‘secret’ meeting between the two. 

As per a PTI report, the visuals aired by the regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar entering the businessman’s residence in the city’s Koregaon Park area at around 1 pm on Saturday. He left by around 5 pm, and later, Ajit Pawar was also seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm while apparently trying to avoid cameras. 

‘If Nawaz Sharif And Modi Can Meet, Why Can't The Pawars’

Downplaying the speculation of a ‘secret’ meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said if Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi can meet, then why not the Pawars. 

"If (former Pakistan prime minister) Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi can meet, why can't the Pawars? Jokes apart, Sharad Pawar is expected to clear his stand in a few days. Sharad Pawar might have told Ajit Pawar to come back (to Maha Vikas Aghadi) like he did after the early morning swearing in (2019 with Fadnavis as CM). Anything can happen in politics," Raut asserted.

Not A ‘Secret’ Meeting 

Talking to reporters on Sunday, NCP President Jayant Patil denied the occurrence of any ‘secret’ meeting. "I went with Pawar saheb to a common acquaintance and left early. I am not aware of what transpired later," he said, as per the report.

NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, also said he is not aware of a meeting between the party founder and the deputy CM, but even if there has been a meeting, there is "nothing wrong in maintaining communication in a family." In a sudden development that stunned political circles in Maharashtra last month, Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government. Eight other NCP MLAs supporting him took oath as ministers.