Amidst renewed buzz of fresh alignments in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar denies having met Amit Shah in Mumbai

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Mumbai: Amid renewed speculation of him allying with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena dispensation, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday firmly refuted speculations of him having met BJP top gun and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mumbai during the latter’s visit to the city.  

The senior BJP Union Minister had arrived in Mumbai on Saturday evening. He attended the Maharashtra Bhushan award presentation ceremony on Sunday. His visit assumes significance ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections this year and the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2024. 

Speaking to newspersons in Nagpur ahead of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) rally, Ajit Pawar remarked, “Where did I meet him and where? This speculation (of meeting Amit Shah) is utterly baseless. I urge the media and others not to mislead people by spreading such news.” 

He further clarified that Amit Shah, after landing in Mumbai had gone to meet Vinod Tawde owing to the demise of the latter’s mother and then had gone to the Sahyadri State Guest House. “With all the media channels moving behind Amit Shah, then how is it possible that I could have met him? These things are never hidden. It is the media which enjoys making such wild speculations about me,” quipped the NCP leader. 

It may be recalled that Ajit Pawar had startled Maharashtra with his early morning swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister alongside the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister in 2019. The NCP leader has proved a source of anxiety for his allies in the MVA – the Congress and the Sena (UBT) – as to his next political move. 

A series of remarks made by Shinde camp Ministers hinting that Ajit Pawar could well come over to their side has only added more fuel to the fire. 

Taking pot shots at the Shinde camp MLAs, Ajit Pawar wryly remarked “I do not understand this sudden showering of affection on me. First, it was Uday Samant, then Dada Bhuse and now Gulabrao Patil, I have no way of knowing why they are making such statements.” 

Earlier this week, Industries Minister Uday Samant had lavished praise on Ajit Pawar in Ratnagiri, while Dada Bhuse had claimed that the NCP leader “was restless” and that “anything could happen” on the political scene. 

Likewise, Water supply and Sanitation minister Gulabrao Patil, commenting on Ajit Pawar, had remarked that “an auspicious hour is needed for any marriage and that hour is soon approaching.” 

The Supreme Court’s verdict on the disqualification petition of the 16 ‘rebel’ MLAs of the Shinde camp is anticipated anytime now, the buzz around Ajit Pawar has intensified with speculation rampant that Ajit Pawar, along with a section of NCP MLAs would support the BJP in the event that the Shinde camp legislators were disqualified. 

Responding to questions about speculation of fresh political equations in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar said that “everyone, from political pundits to the media” like to make such guesses. 

Ajit Pawar, however, said that even if 16 of the Shinde camp MLAs were disqualified, the BJP-Shinde government would still remain stable with the support of the Independents. “It is pointless painting pictures of changed political equations before the apex court has given any verdict,” remarked Ajit Pawar.