Page 5 - Sharad Pawar

Ajit Pawar files nomination for Baramati against Sharad Pawar's grandson

Speaking to ANI, when asked about contesting the election against his uncle, who has won this seat seven times, Yugendra Pawar said that he feels it is quite sad and quite unfortunate

NCP (SP) releases second candidates' list for Maharashtra Assembly polls

The NCP (SP) on Saturday declared a second list of 22 candidates for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, fielding the party MLA Sandeep Khirsagar, from Beed. Sunita Charoskar has been nominated from Dindori in Nashik district against deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal, fielded by Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The NCP (SP) has so far fielded 67 candidates. Declaring the latest list of candidates, Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil said no formula over seats has been fixed among MVA constituents for the assembly polls and that decisions are being made on the winnability of candidates. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents, Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), had previously said that they would contest 85 seats each in the November 20 Maharashtra elections. However, discussions on the final seat-sharing pact are still underway. Ninety or eighty-five seats no formula has been fixed. Whoever can win, that party will be considered. Our effort is to put forth our best ...

NCP (SP) 1st list in Maha out, fields Yugendra against uncle Ajit Pawar

The NCP (SP) on Thursday announced the candidature of Yugendra Pawar against his uncle and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from Baramati as the party released its first list of 45 candidates for the November 20 state assembly elections. Ajit Pawar, who became president of the Nationalist Congress Party after parting ways with his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar last year, is the sitting MLA from the Baramati assembly constituency in Pune district. His party has already announced that Ajit would contest from his traditional seat. Yugendra (32) is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother Shrinivas Pawar. Others in the NCP (SP) list included its state chief Jayant Patil (Islampur), Jitendra Awhad (Mumbra-Kalwa), Anil Deshmukh (Katol), Harshvardhan Patil (Indapur) and late NCP politician R R Patil's son Rohit Patil who is making a debut (Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal). Notably, in the Lok Sabha elections Ajit Pawar's wife and NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar had polled 5,73,979 ..

MVA ally PWP sees red as Sena (UBT) declares candidates for Assembly polls

The Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), a smaller constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, expressed unhappiness on Wednesday as the Shiv Sena (UBT) announced candidates from Uran, Sangola and Loha assembly seats. The PWP led by Jayant Patil had staked claim to these three constituencies. "We will talk to (NCP-SP chief) Sharad Pawar about this," Patil told PTI. He also visited Sangola during the day, he said. The PWP has sought a total of six seats from the MVA: Panvel, Uran, Pen, Alibaug, Sangola and Loha. The Sena (UBT) fielded Eknath Pawar from Loha, Deepak Salunkhe Patil from Sangola and Manohar Bhoir from Uran. The Loha seat is currently represented by a PWP MLA. During the Lok Sabha elections, MVA candidates won in many seats by small margins due to the help of the smaller allies, Patil said. Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra president Abu Azmi, another ally, also said he has not received any further communication about the seat-sharing talks. After days of ...

Almost 99% work on MVA's seat-sharing completed, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said 99 per cent of work on the Maha Vikas Aghadi's seat-sharing arrangement has been completed and leaders of the three alliance parties are expected to announce the formula later in the day. Talking to reporters, Raut also indicated his party could contest 100 seats. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are scheduled on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23. Top leaders of the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance met here late Tuesday night with indications that the seat-sharing arrangement for the assembly elections has been finalised. The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP). After the talks, especially those between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, hit a roadblock, senior state Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat first met NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday and then Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Later, Thorat and other leaders of the MVA again sat together

Maharashtra polls: MVA seat-sharing stalemate resolved, announcement today

Top leaders of the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance met here late Tuesday night with indications that the seat-sharing arrangement for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections has been finalised. The announcement was likely to be made on Wednesday with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stating that a press conference would be held. There was no confirmation from any of the MVA leaders of media reports that the Congress will contest 105, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95 and NCP (SP) 84 of the 288 assembly seats. The remaining seats would be given to smaller parties in the alliance. After the talks, especially those between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, hit a roadblock, senior state Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat first met NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and then Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Later, Thorat and other leaders of the MVA again sat together for a meeting that lasted for over five hours at a luxury hotel here. Thorat said AICC's Maharashtra ...

Allies meet Sharad Pawar as seat-sharing consensus for polls eludes MVA

Amid a stalemate in the Maha Vikas Aghadi over the sharing of seats for the Maharashtra assembly polls, allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) have met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and held deliberations. MVA sources on Sunday said a seat-sharing deal is likely to be sealed in a day or two after arriving at consensus. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20. The process to file nominations will start on October 22. The differences among MVA allies over certain seats had escalated into a war of words between state Congress chief Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, prompting Uddhav Thackeray to appeal to parties not to stretch matters to a breaking point. Sharad Pawar on Sunday stayed put at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai where Congress leader Naseem Khan, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Anil Parab, and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh called on him. Senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra were in Delhi to attend the

MVA seat-sharing: Cong's Chennithala meets Uddhav, Pawar to end stalemate

A day after tensions between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress over seat-sharing for the Maharashtra assembly polls surfaced, Congress's state in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday met former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Leaders of the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties involved in the ongoing seat-sharing talks also met in the evening in a bid to break the impasse as the state is set to go to polls on November 20. While Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are yet to declare their seat-sharing arrangement, their INDIA bloc ally and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Singh Yadav has declared candidates for five of the 12 seats he is demanding. In a message to Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the current national politics is driven by regional parties and they must get their space. The filing of nominations will begin from Sunday, but both the ruling Mahayuti coalition and Opposition MVA alliance are yet to finalise the seat ...

Maharashtra elections: Spotlight on top CM candidates from Mahayuti, MVA

Maharashtra Assembly elections: Maharashtra is set to vote in a single phase on November 20, with the counting of votes set for November 23

Consensus in MVA on 200 out of 288 Assembly seats in state: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies have so far arrived at a consensus on 200 assembly seats in Maharashtra out of the total 288 for the next month's elections. Speaking to reporters at Karad in Maharashtra's Satara district, he said the results of Haryana polls, where the Congress suffered a drubbing at the hands of the BJP, will not have any bearing on the elections in Maharashtra. "I am not directly involved in the seat-sharing discussions. (NCP-SP state unit chief) Jayant Patil is representing our party in the talks. As per the information he shared, an understanding has been reached on approximately 200 out of the total 288 seats," he said in response to a question. Asked about which seats in Satara district that the NCP (SP) will demand, he said a decision on seat-sharing will be taken by Patil. Elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23. The MVA, comprisin

Haryana results won't have bearing on Maharashtra polls: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the results of Haryana polls, where the BJP retained power by defeating the Congress, will not have any bearing on the next month's Maharashtra assembly elections. He noted that the results of Jammu and Kashmir polls were significant from the country's perspective as the union territory garners more attention globally. Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also said that with the unveiling of the new Lady of Justice statue, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud has shown a new direction as nobody else earlier thought of making the changes. Responding to a query about the INDIA bloc's strategy after the Congress's defeat in the Haryana assembly elections, Pawar said the BJP was ruling that state and it managed to retain power. "We are studying Haryana, but at the same time look at the results of Jammu and Kashmir (polls). I do not think that it (Haryana results) will have any bearing on the state's (Maharashtra's

Maharashtra polls: Congress' first list likely on Oct 20; BJP's in a week

The power struggle between the two coalitions, Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi, and among the six parties within the alliances is expected to shape an interesting election battle in Maharashtra

People want Jayant to take responsibility of rebuilding state: Sharad Pawar

Hinting at a bigger role for Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil after the next month's assembly elections, party chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said it was everyone's wish that Patil should take "responsibility to rebuild the state." Speaking at the concluding rally of 'Shiv Swarajya Yatra' campaign of the party at Islampur in Sangli district, Jayant Patil's hometurf, Pawar said several freedom fighters from this region played a big role in the freedom movement, and it is the responsibility of everyone to create the Maharashtra of their dreams. "I am very happy the way Jayant Patil is working towards this goal, he is reaching out to every corner of the state, giving confidence to the people. I am sure that the new generation of the state will rally behind him," Pawar said. "It is yours, mine and entire Maharashtra's wish that Jayant Patil should take the responsibility to rebuild the state and for that your power is needed," the veteran politician added. Pawar further ..

Some leads found in Baba Siddique murder case, says Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said police have found some leads in connection with the killing of NCP leader and former state minister Baba Siddique. Different angles behind the killing were being probed, but police will talk about it later, Fadnavis, who holds charge of the state home department, told reporters in Gondia district. Siddique (66), who joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in February this year after quitting the Congress, was waylaid by three persons at Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area just outside his son's office and shot at on Saturday night. He was taken to the Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead. "Everyone of us has been shocked due this horrific and tragic incident. Baba Siddique was very close to me, we had worked together for years," Fadnavis said. "Some leads have been found, but I cannot reveal them now. Some angles behind the attack are also found, but police will talk about it once the legal procedure is over," the BJP

BJP isn't giving due respect to its old cadre,neglecting them: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wasn't giving due respect to its old cadre and is neglecting them. Pawar was speaking at the party office after inducting former BJP MLA Charan Waghmare into his fold. The NCP (SP) chief said the schedule for the state assembly elections will be announced in two to three days, and meritorious workers inducted into the party will work unitedly with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners. He claimed that a senior BJP leader told him unlike in the past, the BJP wasn't giving due respect to its loyal old cadre and involving them in its functioning. "A BJP leader told me that 80 per cent of leaders joining my party are from the saffron party because I belong to the old school where organisation and cadre matter the most," Pawar said. He alleged that the BJP has neglected and ignored its cadre, which has worked hard to strengthen the organisation since the Jan Sangh days. Pawar said his party will always

Gadkari not afraid to speak if something wrong, says Sharad Pawar

Pawar acknowledged that Gadkari's decision-making process prioritises national benefit over party politics

Sharad Pawar urges govt to amend Constitution, raise reservation beyond 50%

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar urged the BJP-led Centre on Friday to bring a constitutional amendment to increase reservation in education and government jobs beyond the existing cap of 50 per cent. Speaking to reporters here, Pawar said that while granting reservation to Marathas, who have been agitating for quota, care should be taken to ensure that such limits meant for other communities are not disturbed. "Currently, the cap on reservation is 50 per cent. But if Tamil Nadu can have 78 per cent (quota for various communities), why can't Maharashtra have 75 per cent reservation, he asked. The Centre should take the lead and bring a constitutional amendment to raise the quota cap. We will support the amendment, he said. Pawar said the seat-sharing talks among the leaders of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will continue next week. I would only advise the leaders to conclude the talks as early as possible so that we can go to the people, who are looking for a change, he

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Communal elements trying to erase Koregaon's history of sacrifice: Sharad

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said the history of Koregaon Bhima, located in Maharashtra's Pune district, is of sacrifices made by people but some communal elements are trying to wipe it out. Violence broke out a day after the Elgar Parishad conclave was organised on December 31, 2017 in Pune to commemorate the 1818 Koregaon Bhima battle in which a British army comprising Dalits defeated the Peshwas. The Maharashtra government set up the Koregaon Bhima Inquiry Commission in February 2018 under former high court Chief Justice JN Patel to conduct a probe into the violence. Speaking on Monday at a function where advocate Rahul Makhare, who is representing some of the witnesses before the commission, joined the NCP (SP), Pawar said the violence caused restlessness in the state and the country. "One day, I received summons to be present before the commission. During the cross-examination, some people attempted to force me to say certain things. The history of Koregaon Bhima is a histo

MVA to meet on Sep 30, Oct 1 to finalise seat sharing formula: Nana Patole

He also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi is not opposing the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana as CM Shinde repeatedly claims; 'We will make it better when we come to power,' Patole said