Pune: Ajit Pawar Refutes Claims of Alliance ‘Friendly’ Contests and Chief Minister Ambitions

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande

Pune, 11th September 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on a two-day tour of Mumbai, during which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met with him. Reports were suggesting that Ajit Pawar requested the Chief Minister’s post, following the Bihar model, from Home Minister Shah. However, while speaking to the media in Pune, Ajit Pawar denied these rumours, as well as claims of a “friendly” contest within the Mahayuti Alliance for 25 constituencies in Maharashtra in the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections.

Ajit Pawar said, “We are considering the advantages for all component parties of Mahayuti. All parties will sit together to decide the seat allocation for all 288 constituencies in Maharashtra. The allocation for the majority of seats has been decided, and the remaining will be finalized in the coming days. The proposals regarding the Chief Minister’s post and friendly contests within the alliance in some constituencies are all rumours. Information will be provided after the seat allocation is finalized.”

Nationalist Congress Sharadchandra Pawar Party (NCP-SP) Maharashtra State President Jayant Patil claimed that Mahayuti might ask Ajit Pawar to contest the elections “independently” temporarily to regain the alleged lost credibility of the Bharatiya Janata Party. When asked about this, Ajit Pawar responded, “It would be best to ask him about that. I won’t comment on statements made by others.”

Ajit Pawar’s Condition Is Not to Demand the Chief Minister’s Post – Jayant Patil

While in Nagpur for the second phase of Shiv Swarajya Yatra, Jayant Patil said, “I don’t think Ajit Pawar will make such a demand. His condition is not to demand the Chief Minister’s post. He won’t make such a demand before the elections. The BJP is currently a large party with many claimants for the Chief Minister’s post, so I don’t think they will make Ajit Pawar the Chief Minister. Ajit Pawar is not like before.”

Triple Threat for Chief Minister’s Post

Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, now has three candidates to choose from within each party. Although incumbent CM Eknath Shinde is currently the favourite to become the Chief Minister, recent claims from BJP and Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale argue that, as the largest party, the BJP should get the CM post. This has brought Deputy Chief Minister and former CM Devendra Fadnavis into the race. Additionally, demands from the NCP and recent banners and flexes in Baramati promoting five-time DCM Ajit Pawar as the next CM have created a triple threat for the CM post within Mahayuti. Regardless of who is chosen, there are likely to be disappointments among other segments.