INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and other NCP ministers of his faction met party president Sharad Pawar for the
second consecutive day on Monday at Mumbai's YB Chavan Centre."Today, Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and I met Sharad Pawar
We again requested him to keep the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) united
He listened to us but did not say anything on it," senior NCP leader Praful Patel told reporters after the meeting.On same day, Ajit to
attend NDA meeting, Sharad Pawar in opposition meetOn the NDA meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi on July 18, Patel said that both he and
Ajit Pawar would be attending the talks.Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar is expected to attend the opposition meeting that is being hosted by the
Congress in Bengaluru on the same day.Sources said Ajit Pawar and his rebel ministers are desperately trying to convince the NCP supremo
The junior Pawar has claimed that he has the support of around 40 of the 53 NCP MLAs.Patel added that while only NCP ministers met the party
chief on Sunday, many NCP MLAs were present during Monday's meeting.First meeting after rebellionOn Sunday, the Ajit Pawar camp had held an
unscheduled meeting with senior Pawar at the YB Chavan Centre
This was the first meeting between Sharad and the group-led by Ajit Pawar after he rebelled against his uncle and joined the Eknath Shinde
government on July 2.Praful Patel, who had accompanied Ajit on Sunday as well, said the leaders had met Sharad Pawar and urged him to keep
"We came here without asking for any appointment
We requested Pawar sahib that the NCP should stay united
On this, Sharad Pawar did not give any reaction but he listened to us carefully," Patel had told reporters after the meeting.Will not
support BJP: Sharad PawarHours after Sunday's meeting, the senior Pawar made it clear that he cannot support the BJP and will continue with
his "progressive politics".During his address to youth wing workers from Nashik on Sunday, the 82-year-old veteran politician reaffirmed the
NCP's ideology, emphasising their opposition to the "divisive politics of the BJP"
He urged the workers to stand firm on the principles of inclusivity, equality, secularism, and democracy.Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had
tried to play down Sunday's meeting, stating that Sharad Pawar had led the party for 20 years and the meeting was "no big deal".WatchAjit
Pawar faction leaders meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar at Yashwantrao Chavan Center; No big deal in it, says Devendra Fadnavis
