Mumbai: Union Minister and RPI President Ramdas Athavale on Thursday met Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and wished him good luck in the new direction.
After the meeting, Athavale told reporters that, the decision taken by Junior Pawar was revolutionary. This decision should have been taken in 2014. When Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in, the NCP decided to seek external support.
If NCP had come along with the BJP at that time, it would have added a lot to the development of Maharashtra, he said.
In 2017, also the NCP decided to go with the BJP. But Sharad Pawar took a stand that the Shiv Sena was not wanted. The BJP had said it did not want power without the Shiv Sena. It was Sharad Pawar who asked Ajit Pawar to go with the BJP. I was always with Sharad Pawar and the NCP.
I wish Ajit Pawar all the best. They have come with us. He said that he has given a clear stand that around 45 MLAs will come with Ajit Pawar.
At the same titime, theJP is not like earlier. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is the slogan of the BJP. When Narendra Modi came to Baramati, he praised Ajit Dada’s development work.
Sharad Pawar’s policy of doing wrong politics by calling BJP communalists is not right. So Ajit Pawar revolted against the party.
A strong leader like Ajit Pawar has come with us, so we have strength. Although RPI is a small party, it has strength in the state. Hence, RPI got a place in the cabinet expansion. Athavale informed that this has also been told to Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.
