The Nationalist Congress Party will not go with the Bharatiya Janata Party, said party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday, adding that some “well-wishers” are trying to persuade him for the same. Addressing reporters at Sangola in Maharashtra’s Solapur district, Pawar revealed that some “well-wishers” are trying to persuade him but he will never align with the Bharatiya Janata Party, reported news agency PTI. “As the national president of the NCP, I am making it clear that my party (NCP) will not go with the BJP. Any association with the Bharatiya Janata Party does not fit in NCP's political policy,” he said, as per the report.
"Some of us (Ajit Pawar-led NCP group) have taken a different stand. Some of our well-wishers are trying to see if there can be any change in our stand. That is why they are trying to have a cordial discussion with us,” he said without taking names.
He was also enquired about his “secret” meeting with his nephew and Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday in Pune. Responding to the question, the senior Pawar said, “I want to tell you a fact that he is my nephew. What is wrong with meeting my nephew? If a senior person in a family desires to meet another family member, there should not be any issue with that.”
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He also said that the reins of the state will be handed over to the Maha Vikas Aghadi — comprising Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), NCP (Sharad Pawar group), and Congress — by the people of Maharashtra.
Notably, the Pawar senior shared the dais with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in Solapur district to unveil the statue of late MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh on Sunday, the report stated.