Kamal Ghorui
PUNE: Veteran politician and late Ajit Pawar‘s uncle Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that he had no idea about Sunetra Pawar’s oath taking ceremony in Mumbai as he was not consulted nor informed about it. Pawar also clarified that nobody from his family would be attending the oath taking ceremony.
Pawar interacted with the media in his hometown Baramati on Saturday where responding to a question on oath taking ceremony being held in a haste after fourth day of passing away of Ajit Pawar, he said, “It is that party’s (NCP) internal decision. Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel seem to have taken lead in the process and they have set their priorities.”NCP functionaries including working president Praful Patel, state party chief Sunil Tatkare and cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal met the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Friday to convey party’s decision to elect Sunetra as the leader of NCP legislature and deputy chief minister on Saturday. Sunetra along with younger son Jay left from Baramati to Mumbai on Friday night for the oath taking ceremony. Responding to a question on Sunetra being elected by the party to be the deputy chief minister in place of her husband, Sharad Pawar said, “I found out about the decision only through news reports. I do not have much idea about it. We as family members are there to support each other emotionally but as far as political decisions are concerned, it is their party’s internal call. There was no discussion about the issue within the family. The decision has been taken in Mumbai by their party seniors and I do not want to comment on it.”Speaking about Sunetra being chosen as Ajit Pawar’s successor by NCP, Pawar said, “Ajit passed away in a tragic accident. Somebody has to take up the responsibility to take his work forward and maintain the confidence among people.”
