In Baramati’s political heartland, Sharad Pawar, the towering figure of NCP (SP), poured cold water on speculations of a swift merger between the party’s splintered groups. During Wednesday’s media interaction, the seasoned politician prioritized familial bonds and collective healing over immediate reconciliation.
Celebrating a family milestone, Pawar beamed with pride as he congratulated Sunetra Pawar on assuming the Deputy CM role. ‘I’m happy that Sunetra has taken oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Our family is united,’ he shared, weaving personal joy into the political narrative.
Speculation about bridging the divide with Ajit Pawar’s faction was met with a measured response. Pawar clarified, ‘At present, we’re solely focused on looking after everyone and progressing alongside those in sorrow. No talks on political moves have happened so far.’ This stance reflects a strategic breather amid Maharashtra’s turbulent politics.
Pawar weighed in on Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha intervention about General Naravane’s statements. Defending parliamentary discourse, he noted, ‘General Naravane was our Army Chief. If opposition brings it up based on his comments or writings, it’s their prerogative, and they deserve the platform. Discussion would bring the real facts to light.’
Shifting gears to international trade, Pawar scrutinized the emerging India-US pact. ‘We should see clarity in the coming 2-3 days, paving way for in-depth talks. From what’s public so far, it seems arrangements favor US agricultural exports—a red flag for India,’ he analyzed.
Emphasizing power dynamics, Pawar observed, ‘The US wields massive economic might. Their aggressive push into key crop exports will ripple through global markets, hitting farmers in importing nations hard. India’s agriculture must be shielded from this.’
On Ajit Pawar’s untimely death, Pawar urged depoliticization. ‘This is tragic; politics has no place here. I’ve visited accident sites in Baramati personally—I’m familiar with the spot. It was just an unfortunate mishap,’ he said, advocating empathy in closure.