Will quit only after consulting NCP members: Ajit Pawar

Opposition not satisfied with merely an apology over his urine remark

 

Amidst growing calls for his resignation because of his recent controversial remarks, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar today said he would take a call in this regard only after consulting his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislators, who had elected him the group leader.

Pawar made the statement while attending public functions in Satara district, amid a standoff between treasury and opposition benches in the Maharashtra assembly vis-a-vis demands for his exit.

Pawar has stirred a hornets’ nest since he addressed a rally at Inapur in Pune on April 7. The comments, laced with crass humour, had ridiculed critics of the acute water scarcity in Maharashtra. Pawar had asked if dams in Maharashtra to be filled by urinating in them when there was no water. He had also suggested people seemed to have no work, as many children were being born when the power went out at night.

Pawar has already apologised, both in and outside the state legislature. However, the  opposition is demanding an apology from Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Besides, the Shiv Sena, BJP and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have threatened to further step up their agitation across the state against Pawar.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has not made any public statement about his nephew’s foot-in-the-mouth act, except for an apology through Twitter on the remarks.

An NCP insider admits that at present, the fate of the NCP is quite uncertain, even if Ajit resigns or sticks to his post. “Our party has emerged as number one in the elections held last year to the local and civic bodies thanks to Ajit’s aggressive leadership. He has been working quite hard to improve the party’s tally by providing necessary help to the rank and file. If he is removed and sidelined to avoid further controversy and revive the NCP’s image, Pawar senior along with other leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, R R Patil, Dilip Walse Patil, Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil will have to step up efforts to win more seats during the 2014 elections.”

However, if Ajit is not touched, the NCP will have to face voters under his leadership. This will give further fuel to the opposition and Ajit’s critics to target him and thereby attack the NCP, which may be quite risky, a senior minister, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard. “The NCP is passing through  difficult times. It is a Catch 22 situation for the party. Ultimately, Sharad Pawar will have to intervene and find a way out in the larger interest of the party,” the minister said.

The NCP is also worried about the outcome of a slew of petitions filed by political party leaders and non-governmental organisations against the multi-crore irrigation scam, that are pending for judgment in various courts.  Any scathing order in this matter may further spoil Ajit’s prospects.

Ajit’s statement in Satara is important, as he was criticised by his ministerial colleagues and party members for not taking them into confidence before resigning in October last year, in the wake of the expose on the multi-crore irrigation scam, in which he was named. His unilateral decision had made his supporters inside and outside the legislature, strive for Ajit’s defence.