NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on wednesday he met with the deputy prime minister of maharashtra Ajit Pawar in Mumbai and had advice for his former MP: “do a good job for the state and the people.” After the meeting, which was dubbed a “courtesy call”, Uddhav said, “I’m sure the people of the state will get help because he has the keys to the treasury.”
Uddhav’s meeting with Ajit Pawar aroused interest as it was the first time the allies-turned-political rivals had been together after the NCP rebel leader left the opposition MVA camp and joined the NDA government led by Eknath. Shinde in Maharashtra.
Just a day earlier, on Tuesday, the two leaders were on opposite sides of the political divide representing their respective alliances in a show of force.
Ajit Pawar, who rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar and divided the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was part of the BJP-led NDA ruling caucus in the national capital along with other regional parties. He was seen greeting the Prime Minister as the latter was leaving the NDA meeting venue.
Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, was in Bangalore along with Sharad Pawar, where the opposition alliance held its second meeting and got a new name ‘INDIA’. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader will play a key role in hosting the third meeting of the INDIA opposition alliance to be held in Mumbai.
The roles have been reversed for the two leaders. Uddhav, who was the BJP’s trusted ally for years, is now part of the Congress and Ajit Pawar, who sided with the big party in most elections, is now part of the saffron alliance.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar, after challenging Sharad Pawar’s authority and dominance over the NCP, met his uncle twice. The Ajit faction claimed that on both occasions Sharad Pawar heard them but did not say anything. Junior Pawar is backed by a large number of NCP MLAs and has claimed that he represents the original party and not Sharad Pawar.
Politics in Maharashtra is still in a state of turmoil. Two key players in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance have been weakened after their parties split down the middle.
First, Uddhav Thackeray faced the rebellion of his MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. Uddhav not only lost his rule, but also control over Shiv Sena, which was founded by his father, the late Balasaheb Thackeray.
Then came the second blow to the opposition camp and the target this time was Sharad Pawar, the architect of MVA. Ajit Pawar’s rebellion against his uncle has dealt a heavy blow to the opposition camp in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar has vowed to fight back and rebuild the NCP. His first battle will be to convince the Electoral Commission and fight for the symbol and control of the party he had founded in 1999.
For now, it is the BJP that holds all the aces: with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in their camp, the saffron party will call the shots in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
Uddhav’s meeting with Ajit Pawar aroused interest as it was the first time the allies-turned-political rivals had been together after the NCP rebel leader left the opposition MVA camp and joined the NDA government led by Eknath. Shinde in Maharashtra.
Just a day earlier, on Tuesday, the two leaders were on opposite sides of the political divide representing their respective alliances in a show of force.
Ajit Pawar, who rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar and divided the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was part of the BJP-led NDA ruling caucus in the national capital along with other regional parties. He was seen greeting the Prime Minister as the latter was leaving the NDA meeting venue.
Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, was in Bangalore along with Sharad Pawar, where the opposition alliance held its second meeting and got a new name ‘INDIA’. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader will play a key role in hosting the third meeting of the INDIA opposition alliance to be held in Mumbai.
The roles have been reversed for the two leaders. Uddhav, who was the BJP’s trusted ally for years, is now part of the Congress and Ajit Pawar, who sided with the big party in most elections, is now part of the saffron alliance.
Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar, after challenging Sharad Pawar’s authority and dominance over the NCP, met his uncle twice. The Ajit faction claimed that on both occasions Sharad Pawar heard them but did not say anything. Junior Pawar is backed by a large number of NCP MLAs and has claimed that he represents the original party and not Sharad Pawar.
Politics in Maharashtra is still in a state of turmoil. Two key players in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance have been weakened after their parties split down the middle.
First, Uddhav Thackeray faced the rebellion of his MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. Uddhav not only lost his rule, but also control over Shiv Sena, which was founded by his father, the late Balasaheb Thackeray.
Then came the second blow to the opposition camp and the target this time was Sharad Pawar, the architect of MVA. Ajit Pawar’s rebellion against his uncle has dealt a heavy blow to the opposition camp in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar has vowed to fight back and rebuild the NCP. His first battle will be to convince the Electoral Commission and fight for the symbol and control of the party he had founded in 1999.
For now, it is the BJP that holds all the aces: with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in their camp, the saffron party will call the shots in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.