In a surprising turn of events, Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has expressed his admiration for the “paying attention” policy of Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Speaking at a public event in Pune, Ajit Pawar said, “I have been inspired by Raj Thackeray’s policy of paying attention to his uncle’s needs. I too will follow the same policy when it comes to my uncle, Sharad Pawar.”
The statement has raised eyebrows in political circles, as Sharad Pawar is the founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which Ajit Pawar is a part of.
Ajit Pawar’s statement comes at a time when there has been speculation about the rift between him and his uncle, who is also the chief of the NCP. The NCP leader had earlier criticised Ajit Pawar for his handling of the Covid-19 crisis in Maharashtra.
However, Ajit Pawar’s statement seems to indicate that he is willing to bury the hatchet and work towards maintaining a good relationship with his uncle.
Reacting to Ajit Pawar’s statement, Raj Thackeray said, “I am glad that my policy of paying attention has inspired Ajit Pawar. I hope that he will continue to follow this policy and work towards maintaining good relationships with his family members and colleagues.”
Meanwhile, political analysts have said that Ajit Pawar’s statement could be an attempt to appease Sharad Pawar and consolidate his position within the NCP.
The NCP has not yet commented on Ajit Pawar’s statement, but sources say that Sharad Pawar is likely to take a lenient view of it and work towards resolving the differences within the party.
As the political drama unfolds in Maharashtra, it remains to be seen whether Ajit Pawar’s “paying attention” policy will bear fruit or not.