I will work for NCP till I am alive: Ajit Pawar

He scotches rumours on split

Mumbai: Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said he would work for his party till he is alive and scotched speculation that he and a group of MLAs loyal to him might align with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Talking to reporters here, the Opposition leader said there is no truth in reports about any rift in the Nationalist Congress Party and his joining hands with the BJP.

Pawar dismissed reports that he had taken the signatures of 40 of 53 MLAs of the NCP amid a buzz about his rumoured alliance with the BJP.

He said such unfounded reports hurt party workers and create confusion among them.

“We (party MLAs) are all with the NCP. I will work for the NCP till I am alive,” Pawar added. He said the NCP has decided to strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the coalition has planned several rallies that target the Centre and the Maharashtra government over various issues.

The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the NCP and the Congress.

Responding to a query, Pawar said no signatures of NCP MLAs were taken.

“We are working as a family and will continue to do that,” he added. 

Rumours about Ajit Pawar’s next political move started doing rounds last week when he suddenly cancelled his scheduled meetings and also made comments which were seen as being soft on the BJP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp. The BJP is part of the Shinde government.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday added grist to the rumour mill claiming Sharad Pawar recently told Uddhav Thackeray that his party will never join hands with the BJP even if anyone takes an individual decision to do so.

Ajit Pawar slammed Raut without taking the latter’s name on Tuesday and said spokespersons of other parties are behaving like spokespersons of the NCP. The NCP leader said he would raise this issue whenever there is a party meeting.