MUMBAI: Speaking at a show of strength organised by his faction of NCP on Wednesday, Ajit Pawar referred to Sharad Pawar's resignation move in May, which he withdrew under party pressure."In May, we were told you were resigning and wanted to look into the organisation.
A committee was formed with leaders including Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, Jayant Patil and me.We agreed to Supriya Sule's name as national president.
Then after two days we were told you were taking back your resignation.
If you wanted to take back your resignation, why did you give it?"Ajit asked when Sharad Pawar would hang up his boots.
"The age is increasing to 82-83 years.
When will you stop? Give us your blessings.
We wish you a long life." He added that even farmers and industrialists handed over the baton to the next generation.Ajit further said, "In government jobs you retire by 58.
In political parties like BJP, you retire by 75 as in the case of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.
A new generation comes forward.
Give us your blessings.
If I make a mistake, you can tell me," he said.He also said that if Sharad Pawar began touring the state, he would have to respond.
"I will have to respond, otherwise the public will think I am a fraud," he said.Speaking about his chief ministerial aspirations, he said, "Am I not one of the prominent leaders in the state? I have been deputy chief minister five times.
But the car did not proceed from there.
I also want to lead the state and implement various schemes."Ajit said it was a mistake to cede the CM's post to Congress after the 2004 assembly polls, when NCP had won two more seats than its ally.
"The NCP had 71 seats and the Congress won 69.
Yet the top post was given away to Congress.
If we had kept it, we could have had an NCP chief minister till 2023," he said.03:08Ajit Pawar attacks Sharad Pawar in NCP meetAjit spoke in detail about NCP's talks to form a government with BJP in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
By doing so, he questioned why he had been blamed for forming a government with BJP.In 2014, NCP had decided to offer BJP outside support after the results of the assembly polls came out.
"There was a meeting with Devendra Fadnavis at Silver Oak (Sharad Pawar's residence).
We were even asked to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Wankhede stadium," he said.In 2017, he said, there was a meeting called at the CM's residence, Varsha, which was attended by NCP's Sunil Tatkare, Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil.
Besides then CM Fadnavis, it was attended by Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde and Chandrakant Patil from BJP, he added.02:17My relationship with Ajit Pawar will not change, says NCP leader Supriya Sule over Ajit Pawars defection"The portfolios and guardian ministries had been discussed.
Then Tatkare was called to Delhi and told that BJP was ready to form a government of BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena.
But NCP was not comfortable going with the Sena then.
BJP said the three parties would form an alliance, the alliance would not be at the cost of its partner for 25 years, Shiv Sena.
At that time, you (Pawar Sr) said the Sena is communal and we can't go with them.
How did NCP then agree in 2019 to go with Sena and form the MVA?" he asked.In 2019, he said that there were five meetings at the residence of an industrialist between NCP and BJP to form the government, but at the last minute, NCP decided to be part of the MVA.
He also said that in 2022, before Shinde formed a government with BJP, all 53 MLAs from the NCP had signed a letter saying they should go with BJP.
"I still have a xerox copy of the letter with everyone's signatures...
Why am I made a villain in front of the people? What is my mistake? Yet, he (Pawar Sr) is still my idol."Ajit said he had been constantly undermined within the party.
"I have had to tolerate many things.
I have had to backtrack.
Googlies have been thrown at me and I have taken it.
Something was said and something else has been done," he said.