NCP chief Sharad Pawar presents a memento to PM Modi during laying of foundation stone for a Centre of Excellence for Vegetable Production in Baramati. (Press Trust of India photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the stage with NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra's Baramati on Saturday, leading to speculation on the prospect of the BJP and the NCP narrowing down their differences and coming together after a bitter election campaign last year, where both sides minced no words while attacking each other.
While PM Modi had attacked Mr Pawar during Maharashtra elections last year and called the NCP "Naturally Corrupt Party," this visit sparked off a new bonhomie where the PM sang a different tune.
Calling Mr Pawar and experienced leader, PM Modi said, "I speak to Sharad Pawar more than two times a month. Sharad Pawar has always thought of farmers' plight."
Taking a dig at the media, PM Modi said, "It's a good day for the media. They will pull out old tapes of what Modi has said earlier and what Pawar has said earlier. We have different beliefs but the national interest is priority."
The BJP has been facing difficulties with ally Shiv Sena for a while and a stronger NCP will mean that its larger opponent, the Congress, is weakened.
After the elections, the NCP had given the BJP unconditional outside support. However, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's public criticism of the BJP, especially after the drubbing in the Delhi elections, has also fuelled talks of the BJP and the NCP coming together.
The BJP, and especially Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, had promised to go after Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar for his alleged involvement in the Irrigation Scam. But given the new brewing friendship between the BJP and the NCP, that too might have to wait.
The Shiv Sena has not yet reacted to the development but the party is expected to criticise the comments. Mr Thackeray had also stalled a move by the BJP to include the NCP in a grand alliance against the Congress.