Sharad Pawar's dig at Devendra Fadnavis: 'He split parties and families'

PUNE: Slamming deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis for saying "he returned to power after breaking two political parties", NCP (SCP) president Sharad Pawar on Sunday remarked, "People work to unite others and get praise... What work did he do?"

"He split political parties, organisations, and families... He said he broke two parties and took pride in it," Pawar said at a meeting organised by Sena (UBT) in Baramati. He said though some may have switched sides, party workers are still around, and they will ensure that those who split the party are shown their place, reports Alim Shaikh. Reacting sharply to the remark, Fadnavis said, "Pawar, known as a pioneer of engineering split in political parties and families, has accused me of demolishing political parties. The comments are ridiculous."


Veteran politician Sharad Pawar on Sunday criticized deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for praising himself on breaking political parties and families. Pawar said usually people take pride in uniting people.

The NCP (SCP) chief was speaking at a meeting organised by Shiv Sena (UBT) in Baramati. He said that though some people may have switched sides, party workers are still around and they will ensure that those who split the party are shown their place.


Fadnavis alleged Pawar "is trying to play the victim card" by making such "allegations and comments" as "he miserably failed to counter PM Modi's agenda of development".

During a book-launch event in Mumbai last month, he had said that he was mocked for his 2019 assembly poll catchline "I will be back", but failed to form the govt, but he did return to power after breaking up two political parties.


Pawar said, "Some would have read about former CM Devendra Fadnavis's speech in which he said that he had returned after breaking up two political parties. What work did he do? He split political parties, organisations and families. People work to unite others and get praise, but he said he (Fadnavis) broke two parties and took pride in it," he added.



Fadnavis should know that parties break up, some people may shift temporarily, and some have switched sides for personal gain, but lakhs of party workers will not stay calm unless they show the ones who split their party their place, he added. "We will make history by proving that Maharashtra can run peacefully with unity," Pawar said.

The veteran politician said that Shiv Sena is a party that never compromises on issues related to national interest and had never bowed down before Delhi. This has been the perception about Shiv Sena from the time it was formed by Balasaheb Thackeray, he added. Pawar said, "Those who talk about changing the Constitution of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar are trying to break the unity of this country. Every patriot should take a stand and say that he or she will never accept this move."



He added that the central govt is misusing power to target the opposition. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was known for his clean record and his good work in education and health, but was arrested as he did not bow down. Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was also arrested because he criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, adding that the INDIA bloc is fighting against those attacking parliamentary democracy.

Pawar said that at least four times a week, there is a discussion about Baramati in Delhi.