‘Let me be clear’: Sharad Pawar says NCP will never join hands with BJP | India News

NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday made it “clear” that his party will not join hands with the BJP despite some “well-wishers” trying to persuade him otherwise.

“As national president of NCP, I am making it clear that my party (NCP) will not go with the BJP. Any association with Bharatiya Janata Party does not fit in NCP’s political policy,” Pawar told reporters at Sangola in Solapur district of Maharashtra.

Pawar said some “well-wishers” were trying to persuade him but he will never align with the BJP.
“Some of us (Ajit Pawar-led NCP group) have taken a different stand. Some of our well-wishers are trying to see if there can be any change in our stand. That is why they are trying to have a cordial discussion with us,” he said without taking names.
The strong statement comes a day after a meeting was held between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel MLAs of the NCP.

Queried about the meeting, the senior Pawar said: “I want to tell you a fact that he is my nephew. What is wrong with meeting my nephew? If a senior person in a family desires to meet another family member, there should not be any issue with that.”
The NCP chief also said that people will hand over the reins of the state to Maha Vikas Aghadi – comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar group), and Congress.
Notably, Sharad Pawar shared the dais with Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in Solapur to unveil the statue of late MLA Ganpatrao Deshmukh.
(With inputs from agencies)