Refuting claims made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Ajit Pawar-led rebel faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the rival Sharad Pawar faction NCP MP Supriya Sule on October 12 categorically said that her 82-year-old father had been “in the dark” about his nephew’s moves to ally with the BJP in both 2019, and in July this year.
She further disclosed that the octogenarian Mr. Sharad Pawar had had no intention of stepping down as NCP president in May this year, but had been compelled to give his resignation after the NCP rebels under Mr. Ajit Pawar had been intent on allying with the BJP. The senior Mr. Pawar had later taken back his resignation on May 5.
Ms. Sule, speaking in Pune, was responding to rebel NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal’s statements. She said it was now clear by Mr. Bhujbal’s own account that Mr. Sharad Pawar had not been privy to either the early morning swearing-in of November 2019, when Mr. Ajit Pawar had attempted to form a short-lived government with Devendra Fadnavis’ BJP, or when he suddenly took oath as Deputy Chief Minister in July this year, finally breaking away from his uncle.
