Page 14 - Ajit Pawar

No confusion in MVA, will ensure successful INDIA meet: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said there is no confusion within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over his meeting with nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune. The MVA is united and we will successfully organise the next meeting of opposition bloc INDIA in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, Pawar told reporters in Baramati. This was the 82-year-old veteran politician's maiden visit to his home turf after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2. MVA constituents Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had asked the NCP chief to clear the confusion such meetings between the uncle and nephew create in political circles. There is no confusion among MVA partners. We are all together and will ensure the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 is organised successfully, Pawar said. Pawar asked media not to create more confusion by asking the same question. Myself, .

Maha political circles abuzz after 'secret' meeting between Pawars

NCP president Sharad Pawar and his deputy chief minister nephew Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel MLAs of the party, are believed to have met at the residence of a businessman in Pune on Saturday, sparking a buzz in Maharashtra political circles. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Amol Mitkari said, "It could be a family meeting between the two leaders". Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of the businessman in Koregaon Park area at around 1 pm. He left by around 5 pm. After nearly two hours, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm while apparently trying to avoid cameras. The visuals showed the car brushing the gate. Maharashtra NCP president (Pawar faction) Jayant Patil is also believed to have attended the meeting. Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar were in Pune on Saturday to attend various programmes separately. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said, "It is better to ask them (the Pawar

No other strong leader like PM Modi at national level: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said he does not see any other strong leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level today. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar said some people might be criticising him for his decision to join the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, but a man can have a different opinion on the basis of his "experiences". Ajit Pawar, the nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government along with eight party MLAs on July 2. On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah during an event in Pune said Ajit Pawar is now at the "right place after a long time", but "came very late". Asked about Shah's comments, Ajit Pawar said he earlier reiterated that he had taken the decision to join the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance to take the state towards development, transform the region, address several issues, and help the elected representatives complete their work in their ...

You are at right place after long, but came very late: Shah to Ajit Pawar

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday shared the dais with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at an event in Pune and said the latter is now at the "right place after a long time", but "came very late". Shah's statement comes more than a month after Ajit Pawar, the nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, joined the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Eknath Shinde along with eight party MLAs on July 2. Pawar was made deputy chief minister, while the other eight MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, were sworn in as ministers. "This is my first public programme with Ajit Pawar. I want to tell him that he is now sitting at the right place after a long time. This was always the right place for you, but you came to sit here very late," Shah said. Shah was speaking after launching the digital portal of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office. CM Eknath Shinde and ...

Rajiv Gandhi had 'Mr Clean' image, PM Modi has same reputation: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has said late Rajiv Gandhi was known as 'Mr Clean', and Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys the same reputation. Pawar, who split the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government last month, was speaking to reporters in Pune on Tuesday after attending a ceremony where Modi received the Lokmanya Tilak National Award. He said the people of Pune welcomed Modi by standing on both sides of roads when his convoy was passing. "I and Devendra ji (deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis) were in the same car in the convoy. We did not see any black flags during Modi's journey to the venue. In fact, we saw that people, standing on both sides of the road, welcomed and greeted him," said Pawar, when pointed out that NCP workers (of the rival faction) staged a protest and showed black flags during the prime minister's visit. "Any prime minister will think of having a good atmosphere in the country from the law and order point of view.

Ajit Pawar staking claim to NCP symbol: Sharad Pawar group says will reply

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Thursday said the Election Commission has sent a letter seeking their response to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ajit Pawar's faction staking claim to the party name and symbol, and they will reply accordingly. However, NCP leader Praful Patel, from the Ajit Pawar faction, declined to comment on the matter. On July 2, Ajit Pawar led a split in the NCP and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government as deputy CM along with eight other NCP legislators as cabinet ministers. The Ajit Pawar faction had also staked claim to the party symbol, informing the Election Commission (EC) that he was elected NCP chief through a resolution dated June 30, 2023 signed by an "overwhelming majority" of members of the party, both from the legislative and organisational wing. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction's national spokesperson Clyde Crasto on Thursday said the EC has sent a letter seeking their response on the Ajit Pawar's faction staking claim to the party name and ..

Ajit Pawar to meet district collectors to review heavy rain situation

Ajit Pawar on Monday informed the Maharashtra assembly that he will undertake a meeting to review the assessment and impact of heavy rains and floods in the state

Ajit Pawar won't become Maha CM, he is aware of this fact: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dismissed Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's claim that Ajit Pawar would be appointed as the chief minister replacing Eknath Shinde in August. Fadnavis said Ajit Pawar is well aware of the fact that he would not become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2. Responding to Chavan's claim that senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who is part of the state government, will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10, Fadnavis said the Cabinet may be expanded by that date and nothing else. As a leader of the single largest party in 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance), I am officially telling you that Ajit Pawar will not become the chief minister of Maharashtra," Fadnavis told reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan. When meetings of 'Mahayuti' took place (before the July 2 induction of the NCP faction in the government), Ajit Pawar was given a clear pictur

All 7 NCP MLAs in Nagaland extend support to Ajit Pawar's faction

All the seven MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Nagaland and its office-bearers in the northeastern state have extended their support to the Ajit Pawar faction of the outfit, a spokesperson said on Thursday, in a boost to the rebel camp in Maharashtra. The Ajit Pawar faction of the outfit, founded by former Union minister Sharad Pawar in 1999, is part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. National spokesperson of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) Brajmohan Srivastava said, Nagaland unit president Wanthung Odio came to New Delhi and met national working president Praful Patel and Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare. He informed us about the decision of the Nagaland NCP (to support Ajit Pawar camp). Odio handed over affidavits of support of all office-bearers, including seven MLAs, Srivastava said. As per an NCP statement, Patel assured Odio he would support him in his efforts to strengthen the 24-year-old party. Patel instructed the state executive and district units .

Spoke to Amit Shah about traders' concerns on GSTN under PMLA: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said he conveyed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah the concerns among the trader community about the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) coming under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act . He will also raise the issue in the next meeting of the GST Council, Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, told the legislative assembly here. The NCP leader, who joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state earlier this month, was replying to a question by Congress's Prithviraj Chavan during a discussion on the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023. I brought this issue to Amit Shah's notice (during the recent Delhi visit)....I told him that if this goes forward, it could create trouble for many, especially traders," Pawar said. Shah told me that he was also aware of the traders' apprehensions and the government will take steps to ensure no injustice is done to anyone," the minister said. While

Ajit Pawar, rebel NCP leaders meet Sharad Pawar for second time in 24 hours

On Sunday, the Ajit Pawar camp had held an unscheduled meeting with Sharad Pawar at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai

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Ajit Pawar, MLAs meet Sharad Pawar; Patel says faction will attend NDA meet

The Nationalist Congress Party faction under Ajit Pawar and 15 of his MLAs on Monday met Sharad Pawar at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai and asked him to ensure the party stays united. This is the second meeting of Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister on July 2, and his MLAs with the NCP supremo in two days. Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel, who was part of the meeting, said he and Ajit Pawar would attend the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting in Delhi on Tuesday. "In today's meeting with Sharad Pawar, we again asked him to ensure that the NCP stays united," Patel said. Those MLAs (of the Ajit Pawar faction) who could not meet Sharad Pawar during the meeting held on Sunday were present on this occasion, Patel told reporters.

Many NCP MLAs skip Maha legislature's monsoon session on 1st day

As many as 27 out of the 53 MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) did not attend the Maharashtra legislature's monsoon session on the first day on Monday. One NCP MLA, Nawab Malik, is currently under judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case. Out of the 24 NCP MLAs who attended the session, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, cabinet ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode, Dhananjay Munde, Anil Patil and Dharmarao Atram were seated on the ruling side. The other MLAs who extended their support to Ajit Pawar and were present in the House were Babanrao Shinde, Indranil Naik, Prakash Solankhe, Kiran Lahamate, Sunil Shelke and Saroj Ahire. NCP state president Jayant Patil (from Sharad Pawar camp), legislators Balasaheb Patil, Prajakt Tanpure, Sunil Bhusara, Mansing Pawar, Suman Patil, Rohit Pawar, Rajesh Tope, Ashok Pawar and Anil Deshmukh were seated on the Opposition side. Notably, chief whip of the NCP (Shara

Three-week monsoon session of Maharashtra legislature begins today

It will be the first session after former Leader of Opposition and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, broke ranks with his uncle, Sharad Pawar, who is also the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo

Oppn parties have lost hope, they are confused: Maharashtra CM Shinde

On the eve of the Maharashtra legislature's monsoon session, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday took a dig at the opposition parties, saying that they appear to have lost hope and are confused. Addressing a press conference at the Sahyadri guest house here, Shinde said the opposition parties in the state are hardly seen anywhere and one has to look for them. The monsoon session of the state legislature will begin on Monday. Opposition parties - the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group) - on Sunday boycotted the customary tea party hosted by the government. |"One needs to look for the opposition in the state. The opposition parties appear to have lost hope...they are confused and bewildered. However, we will not underestimate the opposition irrespective of its strength," he said. The state has received investments worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore in various sectors, the chief minister said, adding that the opposition also needs to apprecia

Ajit Pawar, other NCP ministers urge Sharad Pawar to keep party united

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of NCP and some ministers from his camp met party president Sharad Pawar here on Sunday and requested him to keep the Nationalist Congress Party united, party leader Praful Patel said. Patel said the NCP chief listened to them quietly but didn't give any reaction. This unscheduled meeting between Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar camp was the first one after he rebelled against his uncle and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on July 2. Besides Ajit Pawar, ministers Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil met the Pawar senior at the Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai. Sources from the Sharad Pawar camp said NCP state president Jayant Patil and chief whip of NCP (Sharad Pawar camp) Jitendra Awhad also reached the Chavan Centre. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NCP's Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar camp, said Sharad Pawar is like an idol to us and they met him to seek his .

Ajit Pawar, other Maha NCP ministers meet Sharad Pawar in Mumbai

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with some other ministers from his Nationalist Congress Party camp met NCP president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Sunday, a close associate of the deputy CM said. This was the first meeting between Sharad Pawar and the group-led by Ajit Pawar after he rebelled against his uncle and joined the Eknath Shinde government on July 2. Ajit Pawar along with NCP ministers Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal, Aditi Tatkare and Dilip Walse Patil met Sharad Pawar at the Y B Chavan Centre located near the state secretariat 'Mantralaya'. Sources from the Sharad Pawar camp said NCP state president Jayant Patil and party leader Jitendra Awhad had also reached the Y B Chavan Centre. On Friday, Ajit Pawar visited Silver Oak, the official residence of the NCP supremo, to meet the latter's wife Pratibha Pawar after she underwent a surgery at a hospital here. Ajit Pawar is known to be close to his aunt Pratibha. In 2019, she reportedly played a crucial role i

Shinde-led Sena had urged BJP to not give finance dept to Ajit Pawar: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena had urged the BJP leadership in Delhi to not give finance portfolio to NCP leader Ajit Pawar, but it did not relent. He also claimed the Shinde-led Sena was told that if it had issues with the NCP leader getting the finance ministry in the Maharashtra government, then it could swap the chief minister's post with him (Ajit Pawar). Responding to Raut's claim, Pawar said this was an attempt to disturb the atmosphere unnecessarily. They went to Delhi and they were not paid any heed. They were told to stay (in government) if they are willing. Delhi said if you have issues with Ajit Pawar keeping the finance department, then keep the department with you and swap the chief minister's post with him (Pawar). This is my information, Raut claimed while speaking to reporters. Pawar was allocated the key Finance and Planning ministry on Friday when portfolios were allocated to nine NCP MLAs who joi

Will meet PM Modi on July 18 to discuss farmers' issues: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 18 and will raise the issues faced by farmers in the state during the meeting. Pawar, who bagged the key Finance and Planning portfolio on Friday, said he and other Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs who joined the Eknath Shinde-led government on July 2, were happy with the allocation of portfolios. Speaking during a media interaction here, Pawar said, "I will meet PM Narendra Modi on July 18. During the meeting, I will take up various issues related to farmers with him. (NCP leader) Praful Patel and I will attend the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting." The deputy CM arrived in Nashik to attend the 'Shasan Aplya Dari' (government at your doorstep) programme. Asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's reported claim that as the Shinde-led faction was not willing to part with the finance portfolio, it was asked to give up the CM's post, the NCP