‘Issues on ground are not solved by making speeches in parliament and taking selfies,’ Ajit Pawar fires salvo against cousin Supriya Sule

Stressing that he had not stolen anybody’s party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took aim at his cousin and incumbent Baramati MP Supriya Sule by saying that work could never get done by “merely making speeches in Parliament” and “clicking selfies.”

Stressing that he had not stolen anybody’s party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took aim at his cousin and incumbent Baramati MP Supriya Sule by saying that work could never get done by “merely making speeches in Parliament” and “clicking selfies.”

Addressing booth-level cadres of his NCP faction in the Pawar stronghold of Baramati in Pune district, the Deputy CM, without naming his cousin sister, took thinly-veiled jibes at her.

“Issues on the ground are never resolved by making speeches in Parliament and getting ‘Best Parliamentarian’ awards,” said Ajit, alluding to Ms. Sule being awarded the same eight times in a row.

“I do not roam around taking selfies nor do I ever do superficial politics. Had I done that [made speeches] in Mumbai, then would work have been done in Baramati? As long as I have your support my work will continue at this speed,” he asked rhetorically, exhorting his NCP workers to tell voters of the benefits of having him [Ajit Pawar] in a vital position in Maharashtra and the advantages for Baramati owing to this.

Taking more potshots at Ms. Sule, Ajit Pawar said that some people were slandering him by saying that he aligned with the ruling alliance [BJP-Shinde Sena] as he was facing corruption charges.

“However, I want to tell everyone that this same person [Ms. Sule] never became a minister. So, why would anybody make corruption allegations against this person. Only those who work on the ground and become ministers face criticism and allegations. But those who do not work, never face any criticism,” said Ajit, taunting Ms. Sule.

The Deputy CM’s salvo at Ms. Sule comes at a time of intense speculation that Sunetra Pawar (Ajit’s wife) is to be the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ coalition’s candidate. While Ajit Pawar said he would be soon announcing the name of the candidate for the Baramati seat, a poll van bearing Sunetra Pawar’s poster was doing the rounds in Baramati.