Sharad Pawar "Was Silent", Again, In Meet No. 2 With Team Ajit Pawar

A day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar met his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar along with several loyalist MLAs to seek blessings, he today again visited the party patriarch with his supporters. Praful Patel, senior Pawar's close aide who rebelled along with Ajit Pawar to join the BJP-Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra, said several NCP cabinet ministers were not present during the surprise visit yesterday as it was a Sunday.

"They met Sharad Pawar today after the Assembly session, and he patiently listened to us," he said, adding that the senior leader didn't say anything.

Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar camp consulted with their legal team in Delhi for passing a resolution through MLAs, sources said.

While the legal opinion sought for was to remain in Opposition benches, but even the legal team is confused with the back-and-forth meetings.

As per the legal opinion, Sharad Pawar camp MLAs were to pass a resolution to remain in Opposition and to forward that resolution to Assembly Speaker today.

Praful Patel and Ajit Pawar will attend the big NDA meeting in Delhi tomorrow.

After meeting Sharad Pawar yesterday, the rebel camp had said that they have requested the senior leader to ensure that the party isn't divided.

"Sharad Pawar didn't reply to us, he just kept on listening to what we were saying and after meeting him, we are going back," Praful Patel had said.

"Today we met our God and our leader Sharad Pawar to take his blessings," Praful Patel said as the rebels emerged from the meeting yesterday.

"We came here without asking for any appointment. We understood Sharad Pawar reached here for a meeting and that's why we all came here to take his blessings," he said.

According to reports, Sharad Pawar addressed the party workers later in the day and made it clear that he will continue his "progressive politics" and never ally with the BJP.

The NCP patriarch, 82, has been a leading player in trying to unite various parties against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

NCP split earlier this month when Ajit Pawar left the Opposition ranks and took oath as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.

Ajit Pawar, who claims the support of more NCP MLAs than Sharad Pawar, also visited his uncle's home last week to meet with his aunt Pratibha Pawar -- Sharad Pawar's wife -- who had a surgery recently.