'Modi Will Not Return As PM In 2024': Sharad Pawar Rubbishes All Speculations About Joining NDA

Amidst tension within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regarding Sharad Pawar's meetings with his nephew Ajit Pawar, the NCP leader has dismissed claims of being offered a Union Minister's position by the BJP.

These claims reportedly suggested that Sharad Pawar would leave the opposition bloc, named I.N.D.I.A., and the MVA to join forces with the BJP.

Speaking to reporters in Sambhajinagar, Sharad Pawar stated that no political discussions took place during his meeting with Ajit Pawar.

“I have openly said no politics was discussed at that meeting [with Ajit Pawar] nor was there any such discussion [on the offer of a post in the central Cabinet]. I have no idea what anyone is saying about it. There was no political discussion," Pawar said, reports The Hindu.

Addressing rumours that the Congress and Shiv Sena were planning to contest elections without the NCP, Sharad Pawar clarified that this was not the case.

On 13 August, Sharad Pawar met his nephew Ajit Pawar, who is the Deputy CM and a rebel NCP leader.

This meeting took place at Atul Chordia's residence in Pune and marked the fourth meeting between the uncle and nephew since Ajit Pawar's split from the NCP on 2 July.

Ajit Pawar has denied that the meeting was secret, but his uncle, Pawar senior, has repeatedly made it clear that his NCP faction would never align with the BJP, despite his nephew's alliance with the ruling BJP-Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena government in the State.

The repeated meetings between Sharad Pawar and his nephew have caused concern in the Congress, despite the NCP chief's attempts to clarify the situation.

Senior Congressman and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said that during the 13 August meeting, Ajit Pawar had apparently conveyed to Pawar senior offers made by the BJP to accommodate him as well as his daughter and MP, Supriya Sule, in top posts at the Centre.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday (15 August) alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a condition for Ajit Pawar to become Chief Minister of the State, which was that his uncle must join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The Congress leader further alleged that even after splitting two parties - the NCP and Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction - the BJP still felt the need to have a tall leader like Sharad Pawar with mass appeal on their side.

Sharad Pawar has dismissed the statements made by the Congress, stating that he does not pay attention to "remarks made by lesser men".

Pawar further said that if the Ajit Pawar faction intends to use his photos for rallies and hoardings, he will take legal action against them.

The NCP chief also launched a scathing attack on PM Modi, stating that the troubles in the northeast did not concern him and that the PM only cared about winning elections. 

The NCP chief, who had recently shared the stage with the PM for the Lokmanya Tilak award in Pune, predicted PM Modi would not return to power after the 2024 election. 

“The current political scenario in the country is not favourable for Narendra Modi. I have no doubts that he will not return as PM in 2024,” Pawar said.