Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Anil Deshmukh on Monday downplayed speculation about a political reunion between party chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Pawar senior and the deputy CM met on several occasions in the recent past, following the split in NCP in 2023, fuelling speculation in political circles about rapprochement.
However, Deshmukh asserted that there was no discussion on the rival NCP factions coming together.
“There is no discussion on both the NCPs reuniting. The two leaders keep meeting on different occasions on issues related to sugar and educational institutes. There is no discussion on the two factions merging,” Deshmukh told reporters in Nagpur, in reply to a query.
The former Maharashtra Home Minister also added that such meetings are routine between leaders.
Meanwhile, speaking on the issue of the local and civic body elections pending in the state, Deshmukh said they should be held as per the Supreme Court`s orders.
“Clean drinking water and governance issues are pending, elections should not be delayed further,” he said.
Elections to several local and civic bodies, including the all-important and cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are long overdue.
The apex court had in May directed the State Election Commission to hold local body elections within four months, in what would be the mini-assembly polls.
Deshmukh was also asked on the issue of the delay in appointing the Raigad and Nashik guardian ministers.
To this, he said, “It`s disappointing that key administrative posts remain vacant. We need to come together and resolve this for better governance.”
He also criticised the state government for failing to address the real issues faced by farmers.
“They promised loan waiver, but nothing has been done. The government must act, not just talk,” Deshmukh said.
The former minister has also alleged fraud in the recruitment of teachers in Malegaon and demanded a high-level probe into it.
“More than 100 bogus teachers have been recruited using fraudulent methods,” he claimed, warning that the party will move the court if the government fails to take immediate action into the matter.
“If a scam is happening in the education minister`s own constituency, then a thorough, independent probe is necessary,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)