Maharashtra politics: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar addressed party workers at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai today (July 5). "The party symbol is with us, it is not going anywhere. The people and party workers who brought us to power are with us," said NCP President Sharad Pawar on Wednesday.
"Ajit Pawar should have spoken to me if he had any problems. If he had something on his mind he could have approached me," added the NCP chief at the meeting of his faction's leaders in Mumbai.
Pawar was speaking at a meeting convened by him at YB Chavan Auditorium even as the rival group held a simultaneous meeting at Mumbai Education Trust (MET) Bandra. Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, MP and party leaders Anil Deshmukh, Balasaheb Patil, Ashok Pawar, Jayant Patil and Rohit Pawar were among those present.The crisis in Nationalist Congress Party has been triggered by Ajit Pawar switching sides on Sunday and joining the Eknath Shinde-BJP government as Deputy Chief Minister. Eight other NCP MLAs took oath on Sunday with Pawar as ministers.
Here are some top quotes of Sharad Pawar's speech:
- The entire country is watching us today and this meeting is historic for NCP
- We have to keep marching ahead despite the hurdles in our way
- We don't have hunger for power and we will keep working for the people
- Ajit Pawar should have spoken to me if he had any problems. If he had something on his mind he could have approached me
- Bharatiya Janata Party called the NCP corrupt. So, why have you (BJP) allied with the NCP now? Whatever happened to Uddhav Thackeray has been repeated
- We weren't taken into confidence by the MLAs who decided to split. Ajit Pawar faction has not followed any procedure
- The party symbol is with us, it is not going anywhere. The people and party workers who brought us to power are with us
- They tried to capture the party office in Nashik
- I have fought several elections in my political career
- We are trying to bring everyone together to save democracy
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