Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday termed as "ridiculous" state Congress president Nana Patole's recent "backstabbing" remark directed at the NCP. Hitting back at Patole, senior NCP leader Pawar wondered whether the BJP, too, should accuse the former of backstabbing it as he had quit the saffron party to join the Congress in 2018.
Addressing mediapersons, Pawar said that, while speaking, responsible leaders should ensure that their statements are not misconstrued. Pawar also said that in the given situation in the state, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress can cross the magic figure of 145 in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly only if they are together.
Rumblings in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camp came to the fore on Wednesday with Patole accusing ally NCP of being a "backstabber", a day after the Sharad Pawar-led party joined hands with rival BJP in Gondia Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections, keeping Congress away from power.
Patole had also said that thee Congress high-command will be apprised of the "machinations" of NCP of the last two-and-a-half years in the party's forthcoming Udaipur conclave.
"Nana's statement is ridiculous. You all know he joined the Congress after quitting the BJP. So, should the BJP allege that he backstabbed it to join the Congress?" Pawar asked.
He said there could be differences among leaders of the two parties at district-levels, and added that such issues won't arise if there is coordination among the MVA constituents.
