Meetings with Ajit tarnishing image of Sharad Pawar: Shiv Sena (UBT)

In a recent development in Maharashtra's political landscape, the frequent meetings between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have come under scrutiny, with Shiv Sena's (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' claiming that these encounters are tarnishing the image of the senior Pawar.

These meetings have captured the attention of both the media and political circles, especially considering the backdrop of the complex alliance dynamics within the state. The editorial in 'Saamana' stated, "It is 'amusing' to see Ajit Pawar frequently meeting (his uncle) Sharad Pawar, and the latter is also not avoiding it."

The editorial went on to suggest that, "There is a hunch that BJP's 'Chanakya' is trying to create confusion by sending Ajit to meet senior Pawar. However, such meetings tarnish the image of Sharad Pawar, and it is not good."

The ‘concerns’ arose shortly after a 'secret' meeting between Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar came to light. This meeting, held at the residence of a businessman in Pune, caused quite a stir within the political circles. Ajit Pawar, who leads a group of  NCP MLAs , is also a part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra.

Sharad Pawar, in response to the speculations, stated that there is nothing wrong if his nephew, Ajit Pawar, meets him. He clarified that while some "well-wishers" are trying to persuade him to consider aligning with the BJP, his party will not join hands with the BJP. These statements were a response to growing rumours about possible changes in the political landscape of the state.

The editorial in 'Saamana' also claimed, "This daily game of creating confusion has now gone beyond the minds of people. The people have become numb to it because of the current political games," as per the Marathi daily. It also quoted Congress state president Nana Patole's description of the meetings between the Pawars as amusing.

Furthermore, the editorial took aim at Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the state government. It pointed out that Ajit Pawar's decision to collaborate with the BJP within the Maharashtra government has made Chief Minister Shinde's faction the subject of ridicule.

The editorial also touched on the ‘health concerns’ of Shinde, which were reportedly raised by his supporter, MLA Sanjay Shirsat. It suggested that Shinde's heartbeats have increased and his "mind has been unstable" since DY CM Pawar's involvement in the Maha government, which might be due to stress related to these political dynamics.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece remarked, "Ajit Pawar's meetings with Sharad Pawar hurt their (Shiv Sena-BJP) 'little brains'." Mocking the CM, the editorial quipped, "If true, Shinde needs ICU, away from Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar, preferably in Mumbai or Thane." Also criticising former CM Devendra Fadnavis, it said he's now a "deputy of outsiders".

Speculation arose over a Maharashtra leadership shift as Amit Shah visited and Shinde's health worsened. The faction must heed this illness. Maharashtra will recover, but it's no trivial matter – not mere amusement, also stated in the editorial by SS (UBT)’s mouthpiece .