Holding a slew of meetings to enthuse his party cadre, Ajit Pawar takes dig at uncle Sharad Pawar 

Deputy Chief Minister and rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar launched a broadside on his uncle Sharad Pawar

Deputy Chief Minister and rebel Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on January 7 launched a broadside on his uncle Sharad Pawar by apparently referring to the NCP patriarch as a stubborn person who did not know when to retire.

Mr. Ajit Pawar has been holding a slew of meetings to enthuse his party cadre and strengthen his base in Mumbai and Pune.

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“You have got to stop once you get old. This is a tradition that has been going on for years. But some people are not ready to listen. They are just stubborn. Government employees retire at the age of 58. Some retire at 65, 70 or 75. However, even at the age of 84, some people [alluding to Pawar senior] do not want to stop. What is this going on?” the rebel NCP leader who split the Sharad Pawar-led party in July 2023 said while addressing his cadre in Kalyan. ”

Mr. Ajit Pawar criticised his uncle for casting aspersions on his capabilities, while justifying his decision to ally with the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena-BJP combine.

“Were we not there to work after you [Sharad Pawar]. Tell us where we went wrong... we have enough capability and strength. I have held the post of Deputy Chief Minister five times,” Mr. Ajit Pawar said.

​Lavishing praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked there was no leadership akin to his in the country today.