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A day following an invitation from NCP founder Sharad Pawar to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar at his Baramati residence for dinner on Friday, both Shinde and Fadnavis replied to Pawar, expressing their inability to attend due to prior commitments.
Busy Schedules and Symbolic Gestures
The Chief Minister and Deputy CMs have a busy schedule with various government events planned in Sharad Pawar’s hometown, particularly as Lok Sabha elections draw closer. All attention is focused on the Baramati constituency following the rift within NCP led by Pawar’s nephew Ajit, who has declared his faction’s intention to field a candidate for the Baramati seat. Political analysts interpreted Sharad Pawar’s dinner invitation to the CM and deputy CMs as a symbolic gesture, emphasising Baramati’s significance as his home turf and their status as guests therein.
Responses to the Invitation
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in response to Pawar’s invitation, penned down a letter to him, expressing gratitude for the invitation but citing prior engagements as the reason for his inability to attend. Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis also expressed regret at not being able to accept Pawar’s invitation due to a busy schedule, particularly citing the Namo Maharojgar Mela organized at Baramati by Ajit Pawar.
Pawar’s Invitation and Political Speculation
On Thursday, Pawar extended the invitation to CM Shinde and his deputies for dinner at his residence in Baramati during their visit to inaugurate developmental projects in the city. This development came amidst speculation about Ajit Pawar’s potential strategy to nominate his wife from Baramati, possibly as a candidate against Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, the incumbent MP.
“After taking oath as CM of the state, the CM is coming to Baramati for the first time and I am very glad about his visit to attend the Namo Maharojgar Event in Baramati. Therefore I would like to extend the invitation for the meal at my residence after the event along with his other Cabinet colleagues,” Sharad Pawar said in his letter addressed to the chief minister.
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