Maha BJP prez in damage control mode over MLC’s remarks against Ajit Pawar

Pune: State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday apologised to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar’s remark calling him a ‘wolf’.
On Thursday, the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief also made it clear that his party does not support Padalkar’s views. “His statement is not in line with the culture of BJP. I apologise to Ajitdada,” Bawankule said, while replying to a media question in Pune.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who reprimanded Padalkar has instructed him to avoid such statements.
Known to be an opponent of the Pawar family, Padalkar had contested against Ajit Pawar from Baramati assembly seat in 2019 but lost by a huge margin.
He has also been criticising NCP president Sharad Pawar, member of Parliament Supriya Sule and MLA Rohit Pawar.
However, after Ajit Pawar changed sides and joined the ruling alliance of BJP-Shiv Sena, Padalkar’s statement has caused discomfort in the alliance and senior BJP leaders are in a damage control mode.
“There could be some difference of opinion with the opposition leaders or from their own party or alliance. However, there is no room for a personal attack. The BJP will never support such a statement. I will speak to Padalkar,” Bawankule said.
The BJP leader said the opposition was spreading speculations over the issue of disqualification of 16 MLAs of Eknath Shinde camp.
“There has been no discussion on a Plan B over the disqualification of the MLAs,” he said. He expressed confidence in speaker Rahul Narvekar and said that he is a learned lawyer whose verdict will be within the legal framework.
Bawankule said his party is looking at bagging over 45 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the upcoming elections.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has taken several historical decisions including the women’s reservation bill. Voters will keep all such decisions in mind when they vote for our party,” he added.