Maharashtra News: ‘Na tired hu, na retired hu’, Sharad Pawar hits back at Ajit Pawar

“The Nationalist Welfare Trust has properties at different places and I am its president. My colleagues took a different stand. They can take a political stand. But staking claim to the original party or its property is not right. I think they will desist from taking this step by heeding their conscience,” Sharad Pawar said

"I have come here to apologise. I erred in trusting some people. Won't repeat the mistake," Sharad Pawar said

"I have heard that the CM has been asked to resign. Things may have changed,” Thackeray claimed in an apparent reference to the NCP faction joining the government.

"The original gaddars (traitors) now know their true worth," Thackeray said referring to the 40 Sena MLAs under Shinde who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray in June last and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

After Ajit Pawar-led 9 MLAs decided to join the Maharashtra government, NCP chief Sharad Pawar was seen in action. He conducted party meetings and took the road to reinvigorate the NCP cadres. Here are some quotes he used during the process:

1. "Today's situation is not new to me. After the election in 1980, all MLAs except 6 out of 58 of the party I was leading left the party."

2. "I know how to start from scratch and will rebuild the party once again."

3. "I don't believe there has been any split in my family."

4. "Be it 82 or 92. I am still effective."

5. "Na tired hu na retired."

Union Minister of State for Social Justice, Ramdas Athawale, held a meeting with Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who recently became a part of the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government following the internal division within the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar. Earlier, on Thursday, Athawale had a meeting with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at his residence in Mumbai.

Following the meeting, Athawale, who leads the Republican Party of India, expressed his opinion that the merger of Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would further weaken the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

“I erred in trusting some people, but won't repeat the mistake. I have come here to apologise for the same,” Sharad Pawar said. 

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"There is no point in these executive meetings of NCP they are holding, ECI must take the decision. Ajit Pawar selected me (Praful Patel) as the national working president, I himself told the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly that Ajit Pawar is our president of NCP. We choose Amol Mitkari as Chef Whip, we gave all affidavits to ECI, and Ajit Pawar has registered a petition to the Election Commission of India in which he has stated that those are with us must be recognized as official leaders of the NCP", he said

"We request ECI that the official Symbol of NCP and name be given to us (Ajit Pawar). It's not a spilt I want to tell you legislative council and all members are behind Ajit Pawar. Yesterday National Congress party meeting was held but it's not an official meeting of the NCP", Praful Patel said.

"The BJP does not break other parties, but there will be no opposition to those who believe in Modi's leadership and want to come along, " Fadnavis said.

For the second day in a row, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went into conference with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai on Friday.

Fadnavis was seen leaving the CM's residence after the meeting on Friday late night.

Earlier, on Friday, in yet another setback to the Shiv Sena (UBT), party leader and the deputy chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Neelam Gorhe, joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. (ANI)

"Since the last one year, CM Eknath Shinde and I have been working together. But with Ajit Pawar joining the government, it has now created a 'trishul' of development, which will remove poverty and backwardness from the state," Fadnavis said

Nationalist Congress Party leader Jitendra Awhad expressed his willingness to resign from the party and permanently distance himself from its activities if Ajit Pawar and his faction believe that a clique comprising Mumbra-Kalwa MLA and Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil, among others, were exerting undue influence on Sharad Pawar. 

Speaking to journalists while waiting with NCP supporters to welcome Sharad Pawar, who was en route to a rally in Yeola, Nashik, Awhad stated that he would also ensure Patil's resignation from the party if the Ajit Pawar faction believed that the presence of such a group around the party's founder necessitated their departure.

After Ajit Pawar-led 9 MLAs decided to join the Maharashtra government, NCP chief Sharad Pawar was seen in action. He conducted party meetings and took the road to reinvigorate the NCP cadres. Here are some quotes he used during the process:

1. "Today's situation is not new to me. After the election in 1980, all MLAs except 6 out of 58 of the party I was leading left the party."

2. "I know how to start from scratch and will rebuild the party once again."

3. "I don't believe there has been any split in my family."

4. "Be it 82 or 92. I am still effective."

5. "Na tired hu na retired."

"Do you know at what age Morarji Desai became the prime minister? I don't want to become the PM or a minister but only want to serve the people."

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday said he is neither tired nor will get retired from politics and his party. Pawar took a jibe at his nephew Ajit Pawar who attacked senior Pawar regarding his age.

Pawar said when asked about Ajit’s remark that at 83 years, it was time for his uncle to retire. Asserting that he was not old yet, Pawar echoed former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's words, saying, "Na tired hu, na retired hu." (I am neither tired nor retired). "Who are they to tell me to retire? I can still work," Pawar said.

Further, Pawar assured, "All rebels will be disqualified from NCP".

NCP chief Sharad Pawar while travelling to Nashik made a pit stop at a restaurant in Asangaon and met his supporters ahead of his rally in Yeola.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Saturday said that a notice seeking a reply on disqualification was issued to 40 MLAs of Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and 14 Uddhav Thackeray faction leaders.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has left for Nashik on Saturday. At 4 PM, he will hold a meeting at Yeola. He is set to commence his statewide tour from Nashik today to consolidate his support base following the recent developments in Maharashtra's political landscape.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appoints Neelam Gorhe as 'Neta' in Shiv Sena. The senior-most leaders after the party president are given this post.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction leader joined Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena yesterday in Mumbai.

Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray has claimed that the incumbent Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been "asked to resign". The claims have also been made by several other opposition leaders in recent days after NCP leader Ajit Pawar broke ties with Uncle Sharad Pawar and joined the BJP-Shinde government.

For the second day in a row, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went into conference with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai yesterday night.

In a battle with his nephew Ajit Pawar who has revolted against his leadership, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is all set to launch his statewide tour from Nashik on Saturday. Pawar’s daughter and NCP working president Supriya Sule will accompany him. Pawar will be holding his first rally in Yeola in Nashik district which is assembly constituency of NCP heavyweight Chhagan Bhujbal (Ajit's faction).

Ajit Pawar faction leader Praful Patel requested "There is no point in these executive meetings of NCP they are holding, ECI must take the decision. Ajit Pawar selected me (Praful Patel) as the national working president, I himself told the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly that Ajit Pawar is our president of NCP. We choose Amol Mitkari as Chef Whip, we gave all affidavits to ECI, and Ajit Pawar has registered a petition to the Election Commission of India in which he has stated that those are with us must be recognized as official leaders of the NCP", he said.

NCP leader Praful Patel on Friday said the party had not broken up, and Ajit Pawar was unanimously appointed as party president by its legislature and organizational wings on June 30. Addressing a press conference here, Patel said they had submitted a petition to the Election Commission of India (ECI) with affidavits of more than 40 MLAs, informing it about Ajit Pawar's appointment and staking claim over the "party name and symbol". 

The meeting of the national working committee of the NCP held by Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Thursday was not official, he claimed.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde here on Friday. The meeting took place at `Varsha', the official residence of the chief minister.

In a tweet, Shinde said the two leaders discussed farm loans in Nashik district, the issues of local residents in the redevelopment of BDD chawls in Mumbai, and reduction of house prices by state agency CIDCO.

Satisfactory solutions would be found to all these issues at the earliest, he added.

Uddhav Thackeray aide and Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe has joined the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Neelam Gorhe is currently Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council and a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Friday said that the people of the state have now realised that they made a grave mistake by voting for the BJP in the last Assembly polls and want to “rectify” it in the coming elections.

He was in Thane to attend a party event.

Patole also led an agitation and targeted the Centre after the Gujarat High Court dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plea seeking a stay on his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar’s fight against the revolt in his party at this age is inspiring, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Friday.

Pawar (82) on Thursday declared he was the president of the party and hit back at nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's retirement jibe, saying he will work more effectively "whether 82 or 92."

“This is what inspires us about him. (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb (Thackeray) was 84-86 years old. We would take inspiration from him. What is age? Mahatma Gandhi was old, but he still fought against the British,” Raut said.

The monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature will be held from July 17 to August 4. The decision was taken on Friday at a meeting of the Assembly's Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal who joined the government on Sunday were present at the meeting along with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Referring to the late-night meeting, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction said it proves that there is unrest in the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and state BJP over the inclusion of NCP legislators in the cabinet.

Mahesh Tapase, spokesperson of the Sharad Pawar faction, said Shinde’s MLAs feel that if Ajit Pawar and his MLAs get plum posts, the very purpose for which they had rebelled and caused the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government will be rendered futile.

The office of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party will be inaugurated in Thane on July 22 as part of birthday celebrations of the newly-appointed Maharashtra deputy chief minister.

Former Thane Municipal Corporation corporator Najeeb Mulla said a rally will also be organised on that day.

Amid apparent disgruntlement among his MLAs, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis late on Thursday night, sources said.

The meeting came days after Shinde denied that his Shiv Sena MLAs were uncomfortable with the inclusion of Ajit Pawar and 8 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislators in the state cabinet and claimed that he would remain as the chief minister until 2024.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Ajit Pawar's age jibe at Sharad Pawar, “He (Sharad Pawar) always inspires us. Balasaheb Thackeray was 84-86 years old, we always drew inspiration and strength from him. It is not about the age..”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Maharashtra political crisis says, “Due to Ajit Pawar, they (the Shinde faction) left Shiv Sena, and now they have joined each other...CM Eknath Shinde and his 40 thieves are saying that they are with us...This is all pretence...”

Days after Ajit Pawar's appointment as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Opposition leaders have claimed that he will soon oust CM Eknath Shinde from the top spot.

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In an indication of a turf war between the new allies, Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogawale on Thursday opposed NCP leader Aditi Tatkare being made guardian minister for the Raigad district.

Gogawale, who belongs to the Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, represents Mahad in the same district, while Aditi Tatkare is the daughter of Raigad's NCP MP Sunil Tatkare.

Congress leader Udit Raj on Thursday said that Sharad Pawar represents the Nationalist Congress party after Ajit Pawar, as per sources, moved the Election Commission to stake claim to the party and its symbol.

"As per the Supreme Court guidelines, when an MLA switches over, the party stands as such. Accordingly, Sharad Pawar represents the NCP," he told ANI.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that 17-18 MLAs from the rival Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were in touch with his party since NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the state government.

In the power struggle within Maharashtra's Pawar family, Parth Pawar, the younger son of Ajit Pawar, is gaining attention and is speculated to rise in prominence ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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‘I am the president of the Nationalist Congress Party,’ asserted Sharad Pawar even as rebel nephew Ajit, who claims to have the support of at least 36 party MLAs, has declared himself the chief. But on Ajit Pawar’s claims of having majority, Sharad Pawar has said that "truth will come out".

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder and president Sharad Pawar has reacted to nephew Ajit Pawar’s retirement jibe at him, saying he is effective even at the age of 83.

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday night at his official residence in Mumbai. The meeting lasted till 2 am. This came days after Ajit Pawar's breakaway from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and joined the Maharashtra coalition government.

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Reacting to the political developments in Maharashtra after Ajit Pawar split the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and joined the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state with 8 fellow rebel MLAs, Momin said, "The developments will add more strength to the NDA ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has clarified the reports of ‘discontent’ in the Shiv Sena camp after Ajit Pawar joined the NDA government with his NCP faction. 

Eknath Shinde said the power of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah is behind him and the alliance government in Maharashtra is only getting stronger with Ajit Pawar’s joining. 

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Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government as Deputy Chief Minister last week. The nine-MLA rebellion has since sparked a massive row, threatening to split the NCP and oust party chief Sharad Pawar. The developments - reminiscent of last year's Shiv Sena rebellion - has however set several lawmakers on edge.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that 17-18 MLAs from the rival Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were in touch with his party since NCP leader Ajit Pawar joined the state government.

Former Chief Minister of Bihar and President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday said that there is "no retirement in politics" while responding to Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's jibe on his uncle Sharad Pawar's age.

"Will he retire just because he says? Does an old man ever retire in politics? No retirement in politics," said Lalu Yadav while talking to ANI as he came to New Delhi for a medical check-up on Thursday.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Clyde Crasto on Thursday said that the Congress has the right to discuss the position of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly which was with the NCP before Ajit Pawar switched sides and joined the NDA government.