Amid opposition's anti-BJP moves, Sharad Pawar flip-flops on MVA unity, may skip rallies

MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar’s statement in Amravati on Sunday that he could not say immediately whether the Maha Vikas Aghadi parties would fight the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections together fuelled fresh political speculation on Monday, leading him to clarify that his statement had been misinterpreted and that he has always been in favour of MVA unity.
He was reported as saying at an event on Sunday, “Today we are together in an alliance and want to contest polls together. But only a desire to fight together is not enough. We have not had a discussion on seat-sharing yet, so how could we immediately say if we will contest together?”

On Monday, Pawar clarified, “I had said that while no final decision has been taken on sharing of seats, I was confident that the MVA would remain intact during the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections.” He added that he would make all-out efforts to unite anti-BJP political parties.
However, a senior NCP leader said Pawar may not attend the MVA’s ongoing rallies, including the May 1 rally in Mumbai, on the grounds that “regional leaders” would address these meetings.

Responding to Pawar’s Amravati comments, CM Eknath Shinde said Pawar was an experienced leader. “His statement is important and serious,” Shinde said.
MPCC president Nana Patole said the Congress’s stand is clear. “Congress will join hands with all those who come together to fight against BJP.” A senior Congress leader who did not wish to be named said that the recent statements of Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar had “created confusion in MVA” and doubts had been raised about whether NCP would continue to be in the alliance.

A fortnight ago, Pawar had taken a different stand from several opposition parties on the issue of a JPC probe into the Adani case. Pawar had stated that a JPC probe would be a futile exercise as NDA members would be in a majority on the committee. Following criticism of his remarks, Pawar said that while there was no change in his stand, he was not against a JPC probe and would not oppose it if all opposition parties demanded it.