Ajit Pawar Refutes Speculations of Joining BJP even as Opposition Unity Efforts Raise Doubts

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Even as an opposition unity to jointly fight the 2024 Parliamentary elections against the BJP is considered to be a non-starter due to a variety of reasons, the Congress national general secretary KC Venugopal met the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai to smoothen alleged cracks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Tuesday vehemently denied any move to join the BJP with his supporters, accusing the media of “spreading rumours without any reason.”

The meeting between Venugopal and Uddhav Thackeray assumed significance in the backdrop of recent differences between the MVA alliance partners on a number of issues, including their respective stances on controversial Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar and the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s decision to skip a meeting of Opposition parties hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. There also were reports that Thackeray could be pressured to return to BJP fold.

Bringing an end to speculations of the last few days, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Ajit Pawar said on Tuesday, “There is no truth to any rumour. I am with the NCP and I will stay with the NCP,” slamming talk of a rift in the NCP and Maharashtra’s opposition alliance.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said NCP workers were “getting confused” because of all the buzz. “I want to tell them that don’t worry, NCP has been formed under the leadership of Sharad Pawar, and there have been times when we have been in power or in opposition,” he said. He said such rumours were being spread intentionally and attention was being diverted from key issues such as unemployment and farmers’ problems.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Pawar said “baseless speculation” was being spread about him and his colleagues in the NCP. Pawar firmly refuted news reports that he had allegedly taken the signatures of 40 NCP legislators with whom he would split the NCP and join the ruling BJP-Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena dispensation.

“I have not taken the signatures of 40 MLAs (with whom to join the BJP). Leaders of different political parties can keep saying whatever they want about me. That is their right. This disinformation is being deliberately spread by those trying to divert attention from vital issues facing Maharashtra, particularly the plight of farmers and crop destruction due to unseasonal showers,” said the former Deputy CM.

He further said when the NCP as a party had already taken the decision to stay within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance (of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction, the NCP and the Congress), there was “no need to take anyone’s signature.”

Pawar categorically said whatever the Supreme Court’s decision on the disqualification petition of the 16 MLAs belonging to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena camp, the NCP would remain united and urged his party workers to focus on building his party as well as strengthening the MVA alliance.

The NCP leader further observed that a probe by central agencies was no indication that he was planning to jump ship to the other side. “Many [non-BJP] opposition leaders are facing ED, CBI probes. Even Arvind Kejriwal is facing the heat. That is no reason to assume anyone will move over to the BJP,” he said. Urging the media to show restraint and stop indulging in wild speculation, he quipped: “Should I write on an affidavit to say that I will be staying with NCP.”

Pawar also trashed reports that he had changed his Twitter bio. “The last time I changed something was when I had to step down as Deputy Chief Minister,” he said. Earlier, Ajit Pawar’s uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar had brushed off speculation about a split and a meeting of MLAs willing to switch to the ruling Eknath Shinde-BJP alliance. “There is no truth in the reports. Ajit Pawar didn’t call any meeting. He is working for the party. This is all in your mind,” Pawar had told reporters.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after his meeting with Uddhav Thackeray, Venugopal said in the current political situation in India and Maharashtra, Thackeray has been fighting against anti-democratic forces. “We have witnessed how democracy has been completely sabotaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Maharashtra. They are using ED, CBI to target every political party in the Opposition, especially Shiv Sena (UBT),” he said, adding that the Congress stood completely in solidarity with Mr. Thackeray and his Shiv Sena. “In this fight, we are all together,” he said.

Further, Venugopal said every political party has its own ideology, but they had come together. “The Congress has its own ideology, Shiv Sena has its own ideology, likewise in NCP. We have discussed all issues and we are all in agreement to go together to fight against these forces. We will continue the dialogue and want to convey the message that we are together,” the senior Congress leader said.

In meetings held during the last Parliament session, everybody felt that there should be a broader joint Opposition unity, he said. “Following which Mr. Kharge and [Congress leader] Rahul Gandhi met [Bihar CM] Nitish Kumar, [Bihar Deputy CM] Tejashwi Yadav and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The entire Opposition wants to fight together against the dictatorship of Modi,” he said.

Thackeray too said every party has its own ideology and that is what democracy is and they have come together to keep it alive. “We will fight together,” he said. When asked if Rahul Gandhi had any plans to visit Mumbai, Venugopal said he had requested Thackeray to come to New Delhi to meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. “If Mr. Thackeray comes to Delhi, Mr. Gandhi will come to Mumbai,” he added.

Although the 2024 Lok Sabha election is almost one year away, opposition parties have started confabulations, exploring the possibility of a united front to take on the BJP. While there is absolutely nothing surprising about these efforts, the feasibility of disparate opposition parties – most of them confined to just one state – coming together merits deeper and dispassionate analysis. Efforts to cobble any enduring and credible alliance will be stillborn.

Though coming together of diverse political parties is not new in India, even the BJP had led alliance governments, but both in 1998 and 1999, the BJP was a strong pole around which non-Congress parties rallied. With no such strong pole available today, it will be an alliance bereft of any positive, constructive agenda and unlikely to be supported by the people of the country, the analysts believe.