A day after reports about the denial of the opportunity for delivering a speech at the national convention, the former deputy chief minister and veteran NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Monday clarified that he did not speak in the meeting because it was a national-level meeting. He also refuted any rumours regarding a rift in the NCP.
Ajit Pawar was seen exiting a stage in front of his uncle Sharad Pawar and other senior NCP leaders at the party's national convention yesterday. Sharad Pawar was named chief of the party for four more years at the two-day event. Only the state NCP chief Jayant Patil and Sharad Pawar addressed the meeting. Ajit Pawar left the stage just moments after party leader Jayant Patil was invited to speak before him, which fueled reports of a feud.
‘’In the national convention of NCP, Maharashtra's state president Jayant Patil spoke because in such events only the presidents speak. No one stopped me from speaking. I went to the washroom - can't I go out?" Ajit Pawar asked, apparently irritated by reporters' questions.
"Media should report based on facts. I am here to speak on the ongoing issues in the state," he said. When the questions persisted, Ajit Pawar snapped: "I am not upset, do you want me to write it on stamp paper?" he asked.
NCP MP Praful Patel had announced on the stage that Ajit Pawar will speak before Sharad Pawar's concluding remark but the former deputy Chief Minister was missing from his seat. It was later on announced by Praful Patel that Ajit Pawar had excused himself to go to the washroom and will come back for the speech in front of cadres who raised slogans in support of the former Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, NCP MP Supriya Sule was seen convincing Ajit Pawar to return for his speech on the stage. When Ajit Pawar entered the meeting venue, party veteran Sharad Pawar had already started his concluding remarks after which the former didn't get any chance to speak.
