Veteran politician Sharad Pawar takes a dig at nephew Ajit Pawar, revisiting the 1978 political move against then Maharashtra Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil, emphasizing it was not a rebellion but a decision taken with mutual consent. In 1978, Sharad Pawar, along with 40 legislators, parted ways with the government, leading to the downfall of the Patil-led administration. On Monday, Sharad Pawar stated that there was no rebellion; it was a decision taken through consensus. On July 18, 1978, Sharad Pawar, then the leader of the NCP, took oath as the Chief Minister at the age of 38, becoming the youngest person to hold the position.
Ajit Pawar’s Criticism:
Ajit Pawar, who joined the Eknath Shinde government after leaving the NCP on July 2, took a swipe at Sharad Pawar during a Sunday event in Baramati. He mentioned that his political stance comes after crossing the age of 60, unlike others who embarked on this path at the age of 38. The Deputy Chief Minister claimed that Yashwantrao Chavan opposed Sharad Pawar’s move as it sidelined leaders like Vasantdada Patil.
Ajit Pawar’s Statement:
Ajit Pawar asserted, ‘Vasantdada was a good leader, but he was sidelined, and the Janata Party was utilized. It’s not like no one took such a step before; I did it. I made this decision after crossing the age of 60, so everyone needs to understand my perspective.’
Sharad Pawar’s Response:
Responding to this, Sharad Pawar stated, ‘During our time, there was no rebellion. We made decisions through discussions. Therefore, the question of someone complaining did not arise; it was a decision taken with mutual consent.’
‘No Prime Ministerial Face in 1977’:
When questioned about the opposition coalition ‘I.N.D.I.A.’ not having a prime ministerial face, Sharad Pawar pointed out that even in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections (post-Emergency), no one was presented as the face of the Prime Minister. The former Union Minister said, ‘After the Lok Sabha elections, Morarji Desai was made the Prime Minister. Not having a face did not have any impact. If people are in the mood for change, they will make decisions to bring about change.