Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray saying no entry for rebels in their parties
Mumbai: Amid the speculation over the party turncoats wanting to come back to their old folds, NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday made it clear that they would not allow any turncoats back in their parties. Buoyed by the success of the MVA in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) are confident that they can turn the table in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election without the leaders who have shifted their loyalties in difficult times.
In June 2022, Eknath Shinde had rebelled against the then Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav thackeray and split the Shiv Sena. Mr. Shinde became the chief minister of Maharashtra with the support of the BJP. Post this, Ajit Pawar also joined the BJP-led alliance with 40 NCP MLAs. Ajit Pawar became deputy chief minister and finance minister in the government.
After the MVA’s good performance in Lok Sabha, there is speculation that several legislators from the Ajit Pawar faction and the Eknath Shinde faction want to return to Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray respectively.
Recently, Sharad Pawar’s grand nephew Rohit Pawar had claimed that 19 MLAs from the Ajit Pawar faction are in contact with the senior Pawar for “Ghar Wapsi”. Rohit had said it would be Sharad Pawar’s decision whether to bring them back in the party or not.
Asked whether those who want to come back to the Shiv Sena (UBT), Mr. Thackeray said, “I will certainly not take them back.”
When asked whether Ajit Pawar will be allowed to join the NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar said that there is no question of taking rebels back into the party. “This question does not arise,” the NCP founder said.
Taking a swipe at senior BJP leader Amit Shah, Mr. Thackeray also said that a few months ago, BJP leader Amit Shah in Bihar had made it clear that BJP had closed the doors for JD (U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. “However, the BJP formed alliance with both of them, who are now in the role of kingmakers in the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Thackeray said.
