The Pawar family feud played out on stage today as Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions headed by Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar held rival meetings in Mumbai.

 

Ajit Pawar, who has led a mutiny against his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, appeared to question the 83-year-old's leadership of the party he now wants to take over.

 

 

  

“You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar)...But you tell me, IAS officers retire at 60...even in politics - BJP leaders retire at 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi...That allows the new generation to rise...You (Sharad Pawar) give us your blessings,” Ajit said.

 

 

 

“The other day, he went to YB Chavan memorial...I have also been there...but you are 83, aren't you going to stop? Give us your blessings and we will pray that you live a long life.”

 

 

Giving examples of several coalitions, including that of the NCP and the Congress, Ajit Pawar said: "My political career was made under Sharad Pawar and there is no doubt that he is the source of inspiration."

 

Recalling events of 2004, Ajit Pawar said that the NCP lost the opportunity to have its chief minister when Congress got two seats lesser than the NCP in the Assembly elections.

 

 

 

"In 2014, the BJP had offered 16 seats each to Shiv Sena and NCP. But the BJP changes its mind later. Nitin Gadkari was keenon it but other BJP leaders weren't," he revealed.

 

Talking about the number of MLAs, Ajit Pawar said that he is in touch with all MLAs who were not able to make it to the event.

 

 

According to him, the NCP held five meetings with BJP on government formation in 2019 when long-time allies BJP and Shiv Sena parted ways over the Chief Minister post. "In 2019, we had five meetings with BJP to form the government and all of a sudden, I was informed that there won't be any alliance with BJP, we will go with Shiv Sena," he said.

 

"They (Sharad Pawar camp) called Shiv Sena a casteist party in 2017 and formed a government with them in 2019," Ajit Pawar said, adding, "I don't know why I am being made a villain."

 

"Senior leaders of the NCP, BJP, Fadnavis, Praful Patel and I met at a businessman's house. There were five such meetings held but we were told not to say a word about it to anybody. I did not speak anywhere. While all this was on, things suddenly changed and we were told that we will ally with the Shiv Sena. I don't understand how the Shiv Sena went from being a communal party in 2017 to an ally two years later. And the BJP that was being friendly was called communal. It does not work like that," he added.

 

 

Without naming his cousin and MP Supriya Sule - Sharad Pawar's daughter - whose elevation as NCP's working president was seen as a snub to him, Ajit Pawar said, "Is it our fault that we weren't born in a powerful family?