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By Saurabh Vaktania: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said veteran politician Sharad Pawar will be “the one who will keep the Opposition united”. Reacting to Sharad Pawar’s resignation as the president of the NCP, Raut said there were expectations that his resignation will not be accepted.
Raut said Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and other opposition parties have conveyed their feelings to Sharad Pawar that his leadership is necessary for opposition unity and the country, especially considering the current political environment.
ALSO READ | Uddhav Thackeray’s criticism in Sharad Pawar’s book is wrong information: Sanjay Raut
Hinting at the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the Maharashtra Assembly elections which will both be held in 2024, the Sena leader said Sharad Pawar’s presence will be “very important” for the polls.
When asked if Sharad Pawar decided to step down as NCP chief after party MLAs faced pressure from central agencies, Raut replied, “There is no doubt that there is pressure by central government through central agencies against the opposition. Use of central agencies is there. In fact, Sharad Pawar himself had written to the Centre regarding the same”.
ALSO READ | He resigned from post, not party, will continue taking his guidance: Sanjay Raut on Sharad Pawar
In April, days before Sharad Pawar’s resignation, Raut had made a similar statement while speaking to India Today. Two days after he met Pawar along with Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said the erstwhile NCP President had told him that there was pressure on his party MLAs from central agencies to switch loyalties.
Raut had alleged that the BJP had been carrying out the same “experiment” with the NCP leaders as it had done with the Shiv Sena leaders who ultimately jumped ship under the leadership of Eknath Shinde.
On the other hand, Sharad Pawar in his autobiography, ‘Lok Majhe Sangati’, blamed Uddhav Thackeray for failing to quell the discontent within his own party and for resigning as Maharashtra chief minister without putting up a fight.
ALSO READ | Sharad Pawar planned his resignation, prepared speech in advance: Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana
Published On:
May 5, 2023
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