'Will continue to stay with NCP...' Ajit Pawar breaks silence on speculation on switch to BJP
'There is absolutely no truth in media reports that have been doing the rounds. We have taken no signatures of MLAs. We are staying with the NCP," he told media persons in the Vidhan Bhavan.
FollowNationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar has broken his silence on reports that he and his supporters were switching to the Bharatiya Janata Party. "I will continue to stay within the NCP. There is absolutely no truth in media reports that have been doing the rounds. We have taken no signatures of MLAs. We are staying with the NCP," he told media persons in the Vidhan Bhawan.
The speculations of a rift within the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, especially within the ranks of Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party came to the fore over a week ago when views different from that of the allies over the Joint Parliamentary Probe in the Gautam Adani issue were echoed by NCP leader.
Let us take a look at the timeline of controversy:
April 4: Ajit Pawar praises Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the PM's charisma was the reason for the BJP's 2014 election victory. He even said that issues like inflation and jobs for youth are more important than PM Modi's academic degree. The remarks were in sharp contrast to ally Shiv Sena (UBT), whose leader Sanjay Raut had demanded Prime Minister showed his academic qualifications at the entrance of the Parliament building.
April 7: Sharad Pawar opposes JPC probe in the Adani issue. Pawar's logic was that if the JPC had 21 members, 15 will be from the ruling party and six from the Opposition. That numerical strength will create doubts on the panel, he said. Days later, however, Pawar clarified that he will not oppose a JPC probe if the Opposition felt it is  necessary.
April 11: Uddhav Thackeray meets Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence.Â
April 12: Ajit Pawar calls on Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Officially, Ajit Pawar put forth his demand for financial assistance to farmers during the meeting.
April 16: Ajit Pawar speaks in favour of Eknath Shinde in connection with the disqualification case. He further speculated that even if Shinde and 15 legislators get disqualified by the Supreme Court, there is no threat to the state government.
April 16: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut writes in Saamna: 'On April 11, Sharad Pawar told Uddhav Thackeray that his party will not go with the BJP, but if NCP MLAs want to take any personal decision, it will be their call.' Raut had wondered whether Maharashtra politics will witness the "second season of defections".Â
April 17: Speculation grows stronger of the rift within the NCP; party MLAs fuel speculation by stating that they will follow whatever decision Ajit Pawar takes,
April 18: Ajit Pawar clarifies he is not leaving the NCP.Â
