'Praying for death': Sharad Pawar faction hits back at Ajit Pawar's 'last election' jibe

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday took a veiled swipe at his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar by referring to his age and mentioning the emotional appeal of a possible "last election".

The Sharad Pawar faction reacted strongly, accusing the deputy CM of being "inhuman" and "praying for the death" of the party founder.

Ajit Pawar had split from the NCP in July last year and joined the Eknath Shinde government along with eight MLAs. He has consistently justified his decision by arguing that the older generation, specifically octogenarian Sharad Pawar, should make way for the younger generation.

While addressing a gathering in Baramati in Pune, the deputy CM took a dig at Sharad Pawar without explicitly naming him and said, "I do not know when some people are going to stop. There might be a sentimental appeal that this would be the last election. Do not know which will be the last election."

Ajit Pawar also spoke about his faction's plans for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections at the gathering and urged people to listen to him and vote for the candidate he would field.



In response, MLA Jitendra Awhad of the Sharad Pawar faction condemned the deputy CM's comments, stating that he had "crossed all limits of decency."

"Ajit Pawar must think about his inhuman comments in which he allegedly prayed for the death of Sharad Pawar. Maharashtra now knows what kind of a man Ajit Pawar is," Awhad said.

"Sharad Pawar's contribution to Maharashtra will stay on forever," he added.

Sharad Pawar has remained undefeated in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls since the late 1960s and is currently serving as a Rajya Sabha member.

(With agency inputs)