2024-09-06 13:12:02
Mumbai : Does Ajit Pawar, who is holding the charge of Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister in Maharashtra, want to become the CM? Will his party be able to recover from the poor performance of the Lok Sabha elections in the assembly elections? What is the strategy of the Mahayuti government? What is his relationship with Sharad Pawar? Here are important excerpts from the conversation with Ajit Pawar on all these issues:
What do you think are the prospects of your party and your alliance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections?
The Nationalist Congress Party and Mahayuti government have done a lot of work. Just 2 months ago, we launched new schemes. Under the Majhi Ladki Behan Yojana, we are giving Rs 1500 every month to every woman directly in her account. Under the Majha Ladka Bhau Yojana, we are giving Rs 10,000 every month to educated youth. SC-ST and economically backward families are being given 3 free LPG cylinders every year so that they can get relief from inflation. Free seeds and electricity will be given to the farmers of the state for the next five years. We are also giving a bonus of Rs 5000 per acre to farmers cultivating soybean and cotton. We have worked for the betterment of all sections. Everyone is happy with us. That is why we are confident of the victory of the Nationalist Congress Party and Mahayuti.
Your party did not perform as expected in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP also performed poorly. Did the strategy change in the assembly elections?
The Lok Sabha elections were held in a different environment. At that time, the opposition had spread confusion among the people that if NDA government is formed at the center, then these people will change the Constitution, which was absolutely wrong. But it affected the people and they got a little misled. The Nationalist Congress Party is a party of secular, progressive and pluralistic ideology, in which we respect all religions whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or Sikh. On 15 August, we organized Constitution Assemblies in all the offices of NCP, where the Constitution and its preamble were read. This program was also organized because the Nationalist Congress Party stands firmly on its ideology and values even while being in the Mahayuti.
If NDA forms the government again, can Ajit Pawar also be a contender for the post of CM?
See, the one who has more MLAs becomes the Chief Minister. I have been elected MLA seven times in the last 34 years. I have worked with 12 CMs. I have been a cabinet minister. I have been a deputy Chief Minister. As a finance minister, I have presented the state budget 10 times. I understand the economic-social-political issues of Maharashtra, and have also resolved many issues. Although I am senior to both the current CM Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, I have no greed for the post of CM. The three of us will contest the elections together and after the elections we will decide who should become the CM from the Mahayuti.
What is the response to the direct relief scheme for women just before the elections? Will it benefit in the elections?
As Finance Minister, I launched the Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana and have arranged Rs. 36,000 crores for it. After implementing this scheme, I am touring Maharashtra with the Jan Samman Yatra and during this yatra, I am getting a lot of love from lakhs of my sisters in the state. I have tied more Rakhis in this yatra alone than I have tied in my entire life.
What is the relationship between you and Sharad Pawar? Can you ever unite politically or are you now on different paths?
I believe that family should not be brought into politics and politics should not affect relationships. Even today I have good relations with Chacha Pawar Sahib. When he joined politics, my father used to look after the farming and I used to serve tea to the people who came to meet Chacha at home. He saw my interest in politics and then encouraged me further. I also fulfilled the responsibility given by him very well.
From time to time, there are reports of you being upset. It was said that your party does not have the same place in the alliance as Eknath Shinde’s party has…
These are all rumours. I have a good friendship with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the three of us are working together. Mahayuti also needs a party with secular and progressive ideology at this time, which we are fulfilling. We put the necessary additional votes in the account of Mahayuti.
How many seats will your party contest in the elections? Has the seat sharing formula been decided in the alliance?
Of course. It has been decided who will contest on how many seats in the Mahayuti alliance. I have spoken to Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde. Everything is final. Everything will be made public in time.
You were the first among the three parties to start campaigning. Your campaign is also visible. Is there any strategy behind this?
I have always worked without any discrimination. But in today’s time it is important to take the work done to the people and tell them about it. That is why I thought of entering the field first. To give a distinct identity to our party members, we adopted the pink theme so that we can connect more women and young voters with us.