Maharashtra CM Shinde gives Ajit Pawar govt plane to arrive in Mumbai ahead of Anil Deshmukh's release

Nagpur: Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajit Pawar along with former ministers and senior NCP MLAs Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Wales Patil on Wednesday left for Mumbai In a government plane to meet former minister Anil Deshmukh who will walk out of prison today after he was granted bail by the Bombay High Court.

Pawar had urged the government to convene the Business Advisory Committee meeting tomorrow, on December 29, instead of today so he could depart from Nagpur at 10 am.

However, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged Pawar to attend the meeting today and thereafter leave for Mumbai. Shinde offered that he fly to Mumbai in a government plane.

Pawar responded positively and attended the meeting and left shortly after.

Ajit Pawar said, "Senior Nationalist Congress leader Anil Deshmukh will be released today. He will not be allowed to go anywhere outside Mumbai. On behalf of Nationalist Congress Party, I have asked State President Jayant Patil to come to Mumbai from Sangli. I am also trying to go to Mumbai."

"While all this is happening yesterday the Chief Minister told me that the business advisory committee meeting is being held and asked me to revise my travel schedule. CM assured to give the government plane. Thereafter, i changed my programme," he said adding that it is the CM’s absolute right to decide who uses the government plane.

‘’I am also the leader of the opposition. I also hold the rank of a cabinet minister. We also used to help each other when we were in power. I decided to go in the government plane and return tonight,’’ said Pawar.