Ajit Pawar On Why He Split Up With Uncle Sharad Pawar

Ajit Pawar said, "I want to thank Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

New Delhi:

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who created a splinter group from his uncle Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and subsequently aligned with the state's governing NDA coalition after expressing numerous grievances, stated today that his decision to separate from his uncle was made to "ensure stability and progress in Maharashtra".

"Many people question why I chose to split from the (undivided) NCP and accepted strain on family and personal relationships, given our alliance with the BJP and Shiv Sena," Ajit Pawar remarked during the ongoing NCP Chintan Shivir in Nagpur.

"I want to clarify that this decision wasn't motivated by power or position, but by my commitment to Maharashtra's stability and advancement," he explained.

"I extend my gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership the country has achieved stability and who have consistently demonstrated generosity toward Maharashtra. They have always been receptive to my requests regarding Maharashtra's development," he further stated.

Read: Ajit Pawar Claims He Was Elected NCP Chief 2 Days Before Coup

The younger Pawar, who divided his uncle Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and formed an alliance with the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in 2023, had rebelled after expressing concerns about his uncle remaining at the party's helm despite his advanced age.

The NCP leader, having been sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister three times within four years, had repeatedly criticized his uncle, who served as the state's Chief Minister four times. In one particularly dramatic outburst, he questioned why his uncle should continue leading the party at his age.

"Other parties have leaders who retire after reaching a certain age. In the BJP, leaders step down at 75. When will you stop? You should allow new individuals to take leadership roles. If we make mistakes, guide us. You're 83 years old—will you ever retire? Please give us your blessings," he had remarked.

The senior Pawar, then 83 years old, had responded assertively, stating he remained "still effective," whether he was "82 or 92".

Read: "Not Acceptable To Society": Ajit Pawar On Why Leaving Family Was A Mistake

Following the Lok Sabha election, where his NCP faction performed poorly, Ajit Pawar made several statements acknowledging that turning against his family had been a "mistake".