Sharad Pawar

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the "Union of States" is under assault by the Modi government as it claimed that a G20 dinner invite refers to the President as "President of Bharat".

Speaking at an event in Purandar tehsil of Pune district, the former Union agriculture minister said it was the government's responsibility to ensure a fair price for onons.

Addressing reporters at Sangola in Solapur district of Maharashtra, Pawar said any association with BJP doesn't fit into NCP's political policy.

Supriya Sule could not attend her daughter Revati's graduation since she was one of many opposition leaders who met in Bengaluru earlier this week.

Distressing to see disturbing visuals from Manipur specially the atrocities against women, which is ”despicable”, he said.

Although the Ajit Pawar camp stated they sought the blessings and guidance of the Pawar senior in the current situation, the latter had not given any reaction earlier.

Sharad Pawar will go to the Opposition paty meeting irrespective of what is happening here, said NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

This unscheduled meeting between Sharad Pawar and the Ajit Pawar camp was the first one after he rebelled against his uncle and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on July 2.

He also blamed Sharad Pawar for NCP losing out on the chance to have a chief minister in 2004.

The Sharad Pawar camp has filed a caveat with the poll authority urging it to hear them first before passing any directive in connection with the factional fight, Election Commission sources said.

According to former principal secretary of Maharashtra Legislature Anant Kalse, Ajit Pawar camp needs the support of at least 36 MLAs to avoid disqualification.

The Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions of the Nationalist Congress Party are holding their meetings in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in south Mumbai and in Bhujbal Knowledge City in suburban Bandra, respectively, on Wednesday.

NCP Crisis Highlights: Ajit Pawar faction to hold crucial meeting with MLAs and office bearers in Mumbai, while Sharad Pawar's loyalists scheduled to meet him at YB Chavan Centre today.

Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government on Sunday as deputy chief minister while eight other NCP MLAs took oath as ministers.

If the NCP can form government with the Shiv Sena, why not with the BJP, Patel, who has switched over to Ajit Pawar's side, said in an interview to Marathi news channel Zee 24 Taas.

NCP national president Sharad Pawar has called a meeting at 1pm while the Ajit Pawar faction, which has aligned with the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis dispensation, will have its meet at 11am, functionaries from both sides said.

Pawar also asserted that he is the last authority in NCP and had fixed some responsibilities for Patel.

Earlier in the day, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said the names of Patel and Tatkare had been "removed from the membership register of the party".

Earlier, NCP president Sharad Pawar sacked Patel and Tatkare, both MPs who have sided with Ajit Pawar in his rebellion, from the party.

Addressing a press conference here, Sharad Pawar said he has launched a statewide tour to strengthen the NCP and boost the confidence of party workers, unfazed by actions of a few leaders. He also said the Congress was justified in claiming the post of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly.