Mumbai: Jayant Patil, the state unit chief of Sharad Pawar-led NCP, met Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune, sparking concerns from their ally, the Shiv Sena (UBT). The 15-minute meeting fueled speculation about Patil potentially switching to the ruling side.
Both Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil were at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) in Manjri, near Pune, for a meeting attended by senior leaders like Sharad Pawar and Dilip Walse Patil. Ajit Pawar arrived first, followed by Jayant Patil. Reports indicate that Pawar asked others to leave the meeting hall, allowing the two leaders to speak privately.
When asked by the media, Pawar said his meeting with Jayant Patil was over knowing the latter’s views on increasing agricultural income by using AI technology. The government has earmarked Rs500 crore in the state budget for the purpose.
Patil’s meeting with Ajit Pawar gains significance amid reported differences with NCP leaders, particularly Rohit Pawar. Speculation suggests Patil is in touch with the Ajit Pawar-led faction.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut while talking to media persons in Mumbai said it goes off nicely for them (Pawar and Patil). The leaders of two factions of the NCP can meet at VSI or Vidya Pratishthan (the Baramati-based educational institute run by Pawars) or all of them can meet even at Rayat Shikshan Sanstha (an oldest educational institute in Western Maharashtra with headquarters in Satara), said Raut.
“But, we never come into contact with those who have deserted us. We would not even think of going to those who have betrayed Maharashtra (by splitting the party). We do not have such institutes to have meetings with those who have quit. And we will certainly avoid any possibility of such meetings,” said Raut, taking a dig at the NCP leaders.
