Mumbai: In a bid to dispel the perception that it is cozying up to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has decided distance itself from the saffron party.
“Sharing the stage of a cultural or personal function with BJP leaders is not a crime. It is (a reflection of the) state’s political maturity. But we will take care in the future and will not spare the state government,” said Ajit Pawar.
Recently, the NCP leadership has been seen with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis continuously on various occasions. Mr Fadnavis was chief guest at Amravati where NCP chief Sharad Pawar was felicitated for crossing 50 years as a legislator. Mr Fadnavis praised Mr Pawar throughout his speech.
Later, Mr Fadnavis chaired the 61st birthday function of senior NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil. Chandrakant Patil, the number two in the state Cabinet recently attended a function of NCP state chief Sunil Tatkare.
These events take place in the backdrop of the BJP’s souring ties with ally Shiv Sena, setting tongues wagging about a political re-alignment in the state.
Mr Pawar was confronted on the issue in a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday when he announced an agitation against the BJP government. The leader made his stand clear that henceforth no NCP leader would share a stage with Mr Fadnavis or BJP leaders. Later, softening his stand a bit, Mr Pawar said, “Maharashtra is a cultured state. We do attend opposition leaders’ personal functions and that should not be seen as a political move.”
Protest planned
The NCP has decided to hit the streets on various issues. From November 25, the party will protest in every tehsil against the BJP government over its failure in the implementation of the loan waiver scheme, lack of employment generation, inflation, the goods and services tax and demonetisation. On December 1, the party will kick off a 10-day march from Yavatmal to Nagpur. The party top leadership, including MP Supriya Sule and leaders Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Jayant Patil, are expected to participate. Party has termed this campaign the Halla Bol (raise your voice) agitation.
