Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday snubbed his nephew, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, for saying that giving the chief minister’s post to the Congress in 2004 was a “mistake”.
Congress MPs from Maharashtra are, meanwhile, saying an “alternative” plan for the Lok Sabha polls should be worked out if its alliance with the NCP doesn’t continue. They are expected to raise this at a meeting with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday.
“Instead of fully relying on the NCP, the Congress must be ready to contest all seats”, party MP Rajani Patil said, adding this was necessary to avoid any “unexpected move” by Mr Pawar’s party that could derail the Congress’ plans.
Mr Ajit Pawar, in a recent interview, said the NCP had made a mistake by conceding the CM’s post to the Congress in 2004 even though it had won more seats, and that this “mistake” shouldn’t be repeated.
Mr Sharad Pawar, however, rebuked all those pushing this line, saying the decision to give the Congress the chief minister’s post was not an individual’s decision but a collective one.