Express News Service

MUMBAI: A war of words has escalated between NCP factions in the state after minister Dilip Walse Patil who belongs to the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led group said “Sharad Pawar is a tall leader but he could not single-handedly bring his party to power in Maharashtra like other regional party leaders in West Bengal and Delhi.”

Walse Patil later sought to clarify that he neither criticised nor spoke wrongly about Sharad Pawar. He clarified that he meant Sharad Pawar was a tall leader but the state had not stood with him solidly.

Then, the Ajit Pawar faction’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter) said that Walse Patil has expressed his regrets but remains firm on his statement about senior Pawar. The handle also posted the video of the speech Ajit gave at his faction’s first meeting in Bandra where Ajit is seen almost repeating Walse Patil’s remark.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Jitendra Awhad reacting to Walse Patil’s statement said there was a larger conspiracy at the national level against Sharad Pawar to reduce his political importance. 

He alleged that Walse Patil made this statement against Sharad in that context only. “Walse Patil became MLA and then was a minister for several years and enjoyed the fruits of power. Now, he is criticising Sharad Pawar. Ajit-led NCP is trying to snatch the NCP that was founded and expanded by Sharad Pawar,” Awhad alleged.
 

<br /> MUMBAI: A war of words has escalated between NCP factions in the state after minister Dilip Walse Patil who belongs to the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led group said “Sharad Pawar is a tall leader but he could not single-handedly bring his party to power in Maharashtra like other regional party leaders in West Bengal and Delhi.”</p> <p>Walse Patil later sought to clarify that he neither criticised nor spoke wrongly about Sharad Pawar. He clarified that he meant Sharad Pawar was a tall leader but the state had not stood with him solidly.</p> <p>Then, the Ajit Pawar faction’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter) said that Walse Patil has expressed his regrets but remains firm on his statement about senior Pawar. The handle also posted the video of the speech Ajit gave at his faction’s first meeting in Bandra where Ajit is seen almost repeating Walse Patil’s remark.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });</p> <p>Meanwhile, NCP leader Jitendra Awhad reacting to Walse Patil’s statement said there was a larger conspiracy at the national level against Sharad Pawar to reduce his political importance. </p> <p>He alleged that Walse Patil made this statement against Sharad in that context only. “Walse Patil became MLA and then was a minister for several years and enjoyed the fruits of power. Now, he is criticising Sharad Pawar. Ajit-led NCP is trying to snatch the NCP that was founded and expanded by Sharad Pawar,” Awhad alleged.<br />  <br />