 "What's cooking? Why did Sharad Pawar invite Maha CM, deputies for lunch?")
Veteran politican Sharad Pawar’s lunch invitation to Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, befuddled his friends and foes alike. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president has invited the trio for a meal at his residence in Baramati in the Pune district during their visit on 2 March.
The development comes in the wake of the senior Pawar recently losing the NCP name and ‘clock’ symbol to his nephew Ajit, who revolted and split the party into two factions last July.
Let’s take a closer look at what is going on.
Sharad Pawar’s invite to CM, Dy CMs for lunch
In a letter dated 28 February, Sharad Pawar asked Shinde and his deputies to visit his Govindbaug residence in Baramati for lunch on Saturday. The veteran leader also expressed interest in attending a mega job fair, NaMo Maharojgar Melava, for which the Maharashtra CM and his deputies will be in Baramati.
“I have understood that you are coming on an official tour to Baramati on Saturday. I and Supriya Sule in the capacity of MP would like to attend the official function,” the letter read.
The government function will be held on the grounds of Vidya Pratishthan, which is headed by senior Pawar, in Vidyanagari. While his daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Amol Kolhe have been invited to the event, the invitation has not been extended to the Rajya Sabha MP, reported Indian Express.
“I am the chairperson of Vidya Pratishthan so I wish to officially welcome you in the premises of the organisation. I also invite you to the guest house of Vidya Pratishthan for tea,” Pawar further wrote in the letter to CM Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNCP, SCP Chief Sharad Pawar extended an invitation to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and both Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis for lunch at his Baramati residence on 2nd March.
— ANI (@ANI) February 29, 2024
The letter reads. "After taking oath as CM of the state, the CM is coming to Baramati for… pic.twitter.com/oIvLpyrznu
“This is the first time you are coming to Baramati after becoming the chief minister of the state and I am very happy for it. I have invited you on telephone for lunch at my residence in Govindbaug in Baramati. Please, you along with your other ministers accept my invitation for lunch after the NaMo mega job fair. I hope you will accept both of my invitations,” the 83-year-old leader said, as per Indian Express.
The trio has reportedly turned down the invitation citing busy schedule in a letter dated 29 February.
Invite raises eyebrows
Senior Pawar’s invitation ruffled feathers as everyone was left speculating about his motive behind the move. While the veteran leader did not share his reasoning, except stating that he wanted to welcome Shinde who was visiting Baramati for the first time after becoming the chief minister, noted Indian Express.
Baramati MP Sule said her father was only adhering to the tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (a guest is like god). She said that whenever any CM or dignitary visits Baramati, they are warmly welcomed at their residence, Deccan Herald (DH) reported.
Pawar’s lunch invite came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a veiled reference to the veteran leader during his visit to Yavatmal town. “An agriculture minister from Maharashtra was in the corrupt UPA government, which looted the farmers of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions,” he said to women self-help groups.
The development also comes in the backdrop of BJP MLC Pravin Darekar accusing senior Pawar of conspiring with Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to create unrest in the state. CM Shinde has ordered a probe into the allegations.
When asked if senior Pawar was trying to buy peace with the state government, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil told Indian Express, “Sharad Pawar has always been a stickler for protocol. If the CM and Deputy CMs are in Baramati and he wants to extend courtesy to them by hosting lunch, why should anybody see politics in it?”
A leader from Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction said they were in a quandary about the invite. “Every act of Sharad Pawar can snowball into a larger political agenda. By taking the lead in this, he has not only ensured centre stage for himself, but will also earn goodwill in public,” he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
A senior Congress leader told the newspaper on condition of anonymity: “We believe Pawar Senior’s secular credentials. But we are always wary of his politics.”
The battle of Baramati
The choice of Baramati, Sharad Pawar’s bastion, for unveiling the mega employment scheme is also significant. As per reports, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar is likely to challenge Sule from the Baramati seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Sule has been representing the seat for the last three terms. Both factions of the NCP have already begun publicity campaigns in the crucial constituency.
With inputs from agencies
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