Sharad Pawar

The NCP supremo, who was scheduled to reach Bengaluru on Monday, postponed his trip by a day for certain reasons and hence will not be joining the Opposition dinner there tonight. “Pawar Saheb and Supriya Sule are reaching Bengaluru tomorrow morning and shall attend the main Opposition meeting,” NCP National Spokesperson Clyde Crasto told IANS, scotching all the hearsay to the contrary.

They included Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Working President Praful Patel, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, state President Sunil Tatkare, the breakaway faction Ministers and other senior leaders. After the meeting, Patel said they all have the highest regards for Sharad Pawar as he is their beacon and their mentor.

Ajit Pawar rushed to Pawar Sr.’s home in Silver Oaks  late on Friday, after learning that his aunt, Pratibha Sharad Pawar had undergone a surgery in her hand in a private hospital.

Earlier, Ajit Pawar pointed out that his uncle should now retire. You portrayed me as a villain in front of everyone. I still have deep respect for him (Sharad Pawar)...But you tell me, IAS officers retire at 60...even in politics - BJP leaders retire at 75. You can see the example of LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi...That allows the new generation to rise,” Ajit Pawar said.

“I miscalculated… I did not realise the developments taking place in the party. I am not pointing fingers at anybody (for the split) and I accept the full responsibility for it,” said Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, in an emotional tug at the masses while addressing a rally in Yeola town.

The meeting holds significance as the Ajit Pawar faction had moved the Election Commission to claim name and symbol of the party, contending that they have the backing of a majority of the party's MLAs. The Ajit Pawar-led camp claimed the backing of 40 elected party officials (MLAs, MLCs, and MPs).

Rahul Gandhi arrived at the residence of Sharrad Pawar in the evening and met Sharad Pawar’s daughter, party working president Supriya Sule and extended his full support with them. According to NCP leaders, Rahul Gandhi also said that Congress is 100 per cent with Sharad Pawar.

Addressing a meeting of the breakaway NCP which joined the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government, Ajit Pawar asked: “Your age is already 83… Are you ever going to stop… There is a retirement age everywhere, IAS officers retire at 60. Even in politics, see BJP leaders retire at 75. There are examples of L. K. Advani or Murli Manohar Joshi. You just guide us and give us your blessings.”

Addressing the first meeting after the vertical split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in its silver jubilee year, Sharad Pawar (83) said that all the parties which allied with the BJP have ultimately been destroyed politically and the Ajit Pawar-led rebels would meet the same nemesis.

“A small trailer of this was already shown to the people of the state earlier this week in Kolhapur and Pune… They are forgetting that the ordinary workers of the NCP are still with Saheb. Whatever Pawar Saheb says is the final word for us,” he said. Slamming the BJP, Patil said that it is indulging in the politics of stealing and splitting parties in the state and elsewhere for their own benefit.