Ajit Pawar backs PM's 'ek hai' message; terms 'batenge, katenge' slogan inappropriate

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party Ajit Pawar on Tuesday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of 'Ek hai toh safe hai', but dismissed Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's 'Batenge toh katenge' slogan, terming it 'inappropriate' and disconnected with Maharashtra's ideological heritage.

"There is nothing wrong with that (PM Modi's slogan), I don't see any issue here. If we stay together, everyone will prosper," Ajit Pawar told news agency PTI.

However, he expressed disapproval about Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge' slogan. "The remark 'Batenge toh katenge' is inappropriate. People's thinking in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh is different, but such statements don't work here. Using such words holds no significance in Maharashtra, in my opinion," Ajit Pawar said.

"Maharashtra is the state of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Shivaji Maharaj. People of Maharashtra are different, and they think differently. If anyone leaves the ideology of Shahu, Shivaji, Phule and Ambedkar, then Maharashtra will not spare them," the deputy CM added.

'Doesn't like to come to Baramati': Ajit Pawar on opponent Yugendra Pawar

Talking about his nephew and now rival candidate rival candidate Yugendra Pawar, Ajit Pawar claimed that he is not interested in politics, and does not even like to stay in Baramati.

Addressing the candidacy of Yugendra Pawar, fielded by Sharad Pawar's NCP against him in Baramati, Ajit mentioned his mother's plea to the senior Pawar to prevent family-based electoral contests. "I made (wife) Sunetra Pawar contest against Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha elections. This has badly hurt (Sharad Pawar), that is why they made Yugendra Pawar contest against me," stated the NCP chief.

"Yugendra has no interest in politics.....he does not like to come to Baramati. He likes to stay abroad," Ajit Pawar remarked, adding "I don't know what happened to him."

"My mother told Pawar saheb there should not be a contest within the Pawar family, but they fielded a candidate. Sharad Pawar is a big leader. I don't want to speak about it. But despite messages from my mother, he took such a decision," the NCP chief continued.

Expressing confidence about retaining his Baramati assembly seat, Ajit highlighted his contributions. "People there know that several people were involved in the development of Baramati, but I have put in the most efforts, and Baramati knows that. I have worked there, and my work speaks for itself," he stated.

Acknowledging the Maratha factor's significance in state elections, he recognised Manoj Jarange's influence on the Maratha reservation movement. Regarding the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana', he clarified it as a government initiative benefiting all Mahayuti partners.
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