Ajit Pawar takes a veiled dig at Ashok Chavan, appeals 'let only top MVA leadership speak'

In a veiled dig at Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar advised leaders of NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena to t speak on crucial issues. He was responding to a question on Chavan’s assertion that Congress leadership had asked for a written commitment from Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray. Maintaining that leadership of all three alliance partners were strong and experienced eugh to put forth ir point of view, he clarified that he was yet to talk to Chavan.  

He remarked, “I want to appeal to NCP, Congress and also Shiv Sena. Our seniors will take an appropriate decision and speak. How was government formed? Because of Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray. y are strong leaders. y are very experienced. In reality, I haven’t talked to Ashokji yet.” 

Read: BJP Startled By Congress Admitting To Arm-twisting Shiv Sena, Getting Written 'surrender'

Chavan's sensational claims

In a video that emerged on January 27, Chavan was heard speaking about condition on which Congress agreed to support Sena and NCP for government formation in Maharashtra. Revealed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was initially t in favour of alliance, he claimed that she asked Sena to give a written commitment that government would function according to tenets of Constitution. Chavan recalled that Thackeray accepted condition. Furrmore, he issued a warning that his party would walk out of government if Maha Vikas Aghadi government deviated from Preamble.  

Read: NCP's Sharad Pawar Heaps Praise On Sena Patron Bal Thackeray, Says 'always Supported Me'

Ashok Chavan said, "Sonia Gandhi told us that you need to get it in writing that government will function as per constitution. If it deviates from preamble we will walk out of government. We told this to Uddhav Thackeray. Shiv Sena accepted it." 

Read: 3 Allies - 3 Positions?: Sena Backs Adnan Sami's Padma Shri, Cong-NCP Say 'appeasement'

Differences in MVA

Since formation of Maha Vikas Aghadi government on vember 28, 2019, dissent has been brewing in all three constituent parties due to dissatisfaction over portfolio allocation and cabinet expansion, and ideological differences. On several issues such as Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar, Bhima Koregaon, and Adnan Sami's Padma Shri, parties have disagreed with each or. Recently, former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan sparked off a controversy when he alleged that Sena had approached him in 2014 to form a n-BJP government. According to him, proposal was declined. 

Read: SENSATIONAL: Congress Admits Arm-twisting Shiv Sena For Written Undertaking; Sonia Knew