Sharad and Ajit Pawar already together: Sanjay Raut on meetings between uncle-nephew duo
Mumbai, Apr 21 (PTI): As three meetings between Sharad Pawar and his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar, who heads NCP, over a fortnight sparked speculation about their political reunion, Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday said the uncle-nephew duo has already come together.
Reacting to the buzz, MVA member Congress said such meetings may be held in the public interest, not necessarily for political reasons.
From the ruling camp, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat said he won't be surprised if the Pawars mend fences and join hands.
Political circles are abuzz with the rapprochement speculation since NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar shared the stage for the third time in a fortnight on Monday, this time to discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture and the sugar industry in Pune.
Ajit downplayed the political significance of these meetings, saying families come together on occasions like engagements, and there was no need to interpret them from any other perspective.
"Both Pawars have come together already. Have you seen us talking to Eknath Shinde (who rebelled in May 2022) or sharing a public platform with him? We won't meet," Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said.
Taking a jibe at NCP leadership, Raut said, "We don't possess education and sugar institutions. We don't have Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Vidya Pratisthan etc (mentored by Sharad Pawar)".
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the Pawars must be thinking that since there is a buzz of two cousins coming together, so what's the harm in the uncle-nephew reunion?
He was referring to the speculation of political rapprochement triggered by recent statements of estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray.
"Such meetings may be in the public interest and not necessarily for political reasons," Wadettiwar said when asked about the latest interaction between Sharad and Ajit Pawar.
Shirsat said he won't be surprised if the Pawars reunite.
"They have already given indications. Rohit Pawar (grand nephew of Sharad Pawar) used to criticise Ajit Pawar regularly, but now he is at Ajit's feet," the Shiv Sena leader said.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said the meetings between the party chief Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar take place at different institutions to resolve issues regarding the cooperative and education sectors.
Relations between Sharad and Ajit Pawar strained after the latter engineered a split in NCP in July 2023 and joined the Mahayuti government. Several MLAs of NCP joined the Ajit Pawar camp, leaving the Pawar senior to battle the biggest political crisis of his life.
In the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, Ajit-led NCP bagged 41 of the 57 seats it contested, decimating the NCP (SP) faction's tally to 10.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
