In a sharp rebuttal to allegations made by his political rival Jitendra Awhad, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday denied claims that his party colleague, Sunil Tatkare, had attempted to persuade members of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to switch sides. The controversy emerged following comments made by Awhad, a member of the NCP faction loyal to Sharad Pawar, who alleged that Tatkare had contacted party MPs with a message urging them to leave the Sharad Pawar faction and join the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
The allegation, which has stirred the political waters in Maharashtra, was made by Awhad during a press interaction on Wednesday. He claimed that Sunil Tatkare, who heads the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction in the state, had reached out to MPs with instructions to “leave the father and daughter,” a statement that was seen as a direct reference to Sharad Pawar and his daughter, Supriya Sule, the Baramati Member of Parliament.
In response, Ajit Pawar firmly denied the accusations, calling them entirely false. “It’s all a lie,” he said during a media briefing, adding that the MPs in question—Nilesh Lanke, Amar Kale, and two others—had publicly clarified that they had not received any such call from Tatkare or any other person. “Three to four MPs have clarified in front of the media that they have not been contacted by Tatkare or anyone else. If these people are saying they have not received any calls, why level such baseless allegations?” Pawar further stated.
Ajit Pawar’s clarification came after the allegations threatened to ignite further discord within the NCP factions in the state. Sunil Tatkare, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) state chief, also responded to the charges, dismissing them as an attempt to keep the NCP (SP) united in the wake of its poor performance in the November assembly elections.
Tatkare claimed that the allegations were part of a strategy to create divisions and discredit his faction, especially after the NCP (SP) faced a humiliating defeat in the state polls. According to Tatkare, the claims were entirely fabricated, and such unfounded accusations were designed to divert attention from the real issues facing the party.
The ongoing political battle between the two factions of the NCP has intensified in recent months, particularly after Ajit Pawar joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and assumed a prominent role in the state government. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar’s faction continues to maintain its hold over a significant section of the party’s leadership and base.
This recent spat highlights the ongoing power struggle within the NCP, which has been grappling with internal divisions since the November polls. While Ajit Pawar and his faction seek to establish dominance over the party, the Sharad Pawar camp is determined to preserve its control and challenge any efforts to weaken its position.
The allegations have also drawn attention to the delicate balancing act being performed by both factions, with each side attempting to maintain its influence over key party members and secure a foothold ahead of upcoming elections. The NCP has historically been a powerful political force in Maharashtra, but its internal disputes have raised questions about its ability to remain united in the face of external pressures.
As the political drama continues to unfold, all eyes will be on the future of the NCP and the impact these internal squabbles will have on its prospects in Maharashtra. For now, both Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare have dismissed the allegations as part of a broader political strategy, but the long-term effects of these ongoing disputes remain to be seen.
