Nana Patole Questions Secrecy Surrounding Sharad Pawar And Ajit Pawar's Meeting

The secretive rendezvous, held at a Pune businessman's residence, has ignited concerns of transparency and unity within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 14 August 2023 11:15 am

File photo of Congress MLA Nana Patole.

The political landscape in Maharashtra became enigmatic following a discreet rendezvous between NCP President Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, at a Pune businessman's residence. This clandestine meeting has drawn attention and raised eyebrows, with state Congress leader Nana Patole questioning the necessity of such covert encounters between close relatives, which he asserts breed confusion among the public.

Patole, speaking out on the matter, emphasized, "When two prominent leaders are connected by family ties, the secrecy surrounding their meeting only fuels uncertainty. The public deserves transparency, not intrigue." His sentiments echo concerns that these rendezvous generate misinformation and misperceptions, especially within the framework of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (UBT), as PTI reported.

Visuals of Ajit Pawar hastily departing from the scene in a car post-meeting have only added to the mystery, prompting Patole's pointed question: "If they are indeed relatives, why resort to covert discussions and evasive actions?" Patole informed that the developments have been conveyed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and will be tabled for discussion in the upcoming INDIA opposition bloc meeting in Mumbai.

The conversation expanded to Patole's recent meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, during which the Pawar meeting was broached. Patole shared, "Thackeray and I exchanged thoughts on this matter, underscoring its relevance within the broader political dynamics."

Offering clarity, Sharad Pawar affirmed the unity within the MVA alliance, asserting that the opposition bloc INDIA's meeting in Mumbai at the end of August will proceed without disruption. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Congress has outlined plans for a statewide foot march from September 3 to 17, aimed at shedding light on issues such as alleged corruption within the state government, escalating farmer suicides, and inadequate power supply for cultivators.