Nothing to worry, says Pawar after nephew Ajit meets him

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday scotched perception of a family feud over resignation of his nephew Ajit Pawar as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly a day before.

Earlier in the day, Ajit, who remained incommunicado after he resigned on Friday, met his uncle at the latter's residence in Mumbai.

"There is nothing to worry. He (Ajit Pawar) himself will give you (media) further details," Pawar told reporters after the meeting.

The Pawar senior's daughter and party MP Supriya Sule, who was advised rest after being diagnosed with dengue, also attended the meeting where only members of the Pawar clan were present.

Ajit is scheduled to address a press conference soon.

On Friday, Ajit caused a flutter in the party when he sent his resignation as the MLA from Baramati segment to Legislative Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade, which has been accepted.

Ajit, a former deputy chief minister, did not disclose the reason while tendering the resignation.

His resignation in the run-up to the October assembly polls came on a day when NCP leaders and workers rallied behind Sharad Pawar, against whom the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a case in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam.

The anti-money laundering agency has also registered a case against Ajit in the alleged Rs 25,000 crore embezzlement scam.

According to reports, Ajit was upset because his nephew Rohit Pawar was likely to make a debut on the state political scene.

However, the Pawar senior had dismissed reports of differences within his clan.

"There is no feud. My decision is the last word in all family matters. When I meet Ajit I will ask him the reason for his extreme decision," Pawar had said.

According to Pawar, Ajit's son Parth had told him that his father was "restless" as he felt that he was the cause behind the ED registering a case against the veteran politician.

Reports of a cold war between Ajit and Supriya Sule for supremacy in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) keep surfacing intermittently.