Maharashtra: War of words erupts between allies BJP, NCP over RSS leader's remark

Devendre Fadnavis (L), Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar (R)

A war of words erupted between NDA allies BJP and the Ajit-Pawar led NCP over an article in Organiser, a weekly known to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The article had criticised the saffron party for forming an alliance with NCP (Ajit Pawar) in Maharashtra.

The Organiser article called BJP's move as "unnecessary politicking". It said BJP's brand value reduced after the induction of Ajit Pawar's NCP into NDA and the saffron party became "just another political party without any difference".

Reacting to the article, NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, "To some extent, it (article) may be true. Some have also criticised the BJP for including leaders from the Congress, such as former chief minister Ashok Chavan. Even former Congress leader Milind Deora was inducted by CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and made an RS member."

Further questioning the performance of the saffron party in other regions, he asked, "But who will talk about the result in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP's seats decreased? What about other states where they lost some seats?"

Meanwhile, NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel said an article does not reflect the BJP's stance. NCP youth wing leader Sooraj Chavan, however, reacted sharply saying that when the BJP performs well, credit is given to the hard work of the RSS but a defeat is blamed on Ajit Pawar.

Defending RSS, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar said, "The RSS is like a father figure to all of us. There is no need to make comments about the RSS. Sooraj Chavan should not have rushed to comment on the organisation. The BJP has not commented against the NCP. It would be better if such issues are discussed during NDA meetings."

The article by Organiser, which was written by columnist and RSS worker Ratan Sharda, stated that that Maharashtra is a prime example of unnecessary politicking and avoidable manipulations. "NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined BJP even though BJP and split SS had a comfortable majority. Sharad Pawar would have faded away in two-three years as NCP would have lost energy with infighting between cousins," it said.

“Why was this ill-advised step taken? BJP supporters were hurt because they had fought against this Congress ideology for years and were persecuted. In a single stroke, the BJP reduced its brand value. After years of struggle to become numero uno in Maharashtra, it became just another political party without any difference,” stated the article.

In Maharashtra's political landscape, a lot has changed over the last few days since the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls result. Several reports suggested that senior NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leaders were not too happy with the party's decision to field Sunetra Pawar for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Sunetra Pawar, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, lost from the Baramati constituency in Pune district -- where her sister-in-law Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, registered her fourth consecutive wint.

As Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar filed nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, no politician from the Ajit Pawar-led party's allies in the ruling Mahayuti (BJP and the Shiv Sena) was present.

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said though he was keen on contesting the Rajya Sabha polls, he was not upset with Sunetra Pawar's nomination, which he described as a "collective decision" of the party, according to a PTI report.

On giving the Rajya Sabha seat to NCP leader Sunetra Pawar, Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar told ANI, "No one is upset. Chhagan Bhujbal and Praful Patel already cleared that our parliamentary board had decided this. Devendra Fadnavis was was in a funeral therefore he couldn't come...No one is upset at all...The nomination has been filed already. Today we got to know that the nomination has been accepted also and if no other contestants come before the last day then this can be an unopposed election."