No permanent friend or foe in politics; no self-interest in joining govt: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar said on Sunday (August 27) that nobody is a permanent friend or foe in politics.

Addressing a rally in Beed, nearly 390 km from Mumbai, Ajit said he was hopeful Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma will benefit Maharashtra, which follows secular thoughts.

Notably, Ajit’s uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar had addressed a rally in Beed 10 days ago.

“Nobody is permanent friend or foe in politics. This is politics,” Ajit said, as he thanked local leaders of Shiv Sena and BJP for welcoming him and other ministers of NCP.

“It is our expectation that PM Modi’s charisma would benefit Maharashtra and, hence, we all decided to join the (BJP-Shiv Sena) government for the benefit of the state. There is no self-interest behind our decision to join the government. There is no iota of truth in some speculative talks,” he said.

“Won’t respond to comments” 

In a surprise move, Ajit joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government last month and took oath as the deputy chief minister. Eight MLAs of the NCP also took oath as ministers.

He also staked a claim to NCP and its symbol.

The Pawar senior has consistently maintained that he is against joining hands with the BJP and has called Ajit and other MLAs “cowards” without taking their names.

Interestingly, Sharad Pawar on Friday claimed that there was no split in NCP and Ajit Pawar is its leader, but denied his statement within hours.

He also said the opportunity to correct oneself is given once but the opportunity cannot be given again or one shouldn’t ask for it again, apparently referring to Ajit’s early-morning oath-taking ceremony with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis after the 2019 assembly polls.

“I am a person who likes to work and likes to speak through my work. I won’t respond to comments made against me by anyone,” Ajit Pawar said in Beed.

(With agency inputs)