I am in NCP, will stay with NCP: Ajit Pawar trashes rumours of joining BJP with party MLAs

Putting to rest all the speculation about him joining the BJP, NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said all that is being  said or written about him is ``absolutely baseless and is meant to deviate people's attention from real issues bothering them." 

“For the past few days there seems to be a deliberate attempt to spread misconceptions about me and party MLAs  who met me. But, there is absolutely no truth behind those news stories  about defecting to the BJP. These  are mere baseless speculations,” Pawar Jr  said while speaking to mediapersons at the Vidhan Bhavan. “I am in NCP and would always remain with the NCP,” he emphasised  while terming the news stories as an attempt to create of confusion among supporters and malign his image.

Pawar also refuted all claims about attempts to garner support of 40 MLAs by him. “News were given about me having collected signatures of 40 MLAs. But, let me tell you there is absolutely no truth in it. We all belong to the NCP and there is no need for any such signature campaign and hence these news stories are absolutely baseless,” he said.

While reacting to speculations regarding meetings of party MLAs, Pawar stressed that it was a routine that is being followed for a long time. “Tuesdays and Wednesdays are meant for party MLAs who come here at state legislature for committee meetings. Many of them also have work related meetings at Mantralaya. They came to me today because I was here. Its a routine which is being followed for a long time. By sticking motives to it,  confusion is being created among the grass root party workers,” he said.

Pawar also said that the motive behind these deliberate  speculations is to deviate people’s attention from important issues like unemployment, inflation, losses incurred by farmers due to untimely rains etc. “Promises of filling up 75,000 vacancies in government  have not been fulfilled, Cotton and onion farmers are doomed, CM Eknath Shinde  toured the area affected due to rains, but didn’t ensure immediate relief measures. Several relief centres were closed down for simple reasons like lack of jute bags,” a visibly angry Pawar, who had earlier teamed up with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis,  said adding that instead of focusing on such issues the media is wasting time on ``non-issues.''

Pointing at camera units of TV channels being deployed outside his official residence 24x7, Pawar asked the mediapersons whether they want him to give them on affidavit that whatever they are speculating has no base?

Reacting to articles written by Sanjay Raut without naming him, Pawar said, “Some  spokespersons from other parties are acting like they are spokesperson of the NCP. I don’t know who have given them rights to do so. I shall be raising this issue at the MVA meeting and seek explanation.”