It looks like the rift in the Pawar family and Maharashtra’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), occasioned by a stunning midnight coup on Saturday, is over.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Supriya Sule greets Maharashtra leaders at assembly
- Gives cousin Ajit Pawar a warm hug
- Ajit Pawar-backed govt fell after both he, Fadnavis resigned
“Family and party split,” she said in a WhatsApp status. And another: “Never felt so cheated in my life. Defended him, loved him. Look what I get in return.”
But the bitterness seems to have been ephemeral, much like the BJP-led government Ajit Pawar lent his support to.
For on Wednesday, as MLAs arrived at the Maharashtra assembly to take oath, Supriya Sule gave her cousin a big hug.
While she was all smiles, Pawar looked rather more grim. Take a look.
ANI
✔@ANI
#WATCH NCP leader Supriya Sule welcomed Ajit Pawar and other newly elected MLAs at #Maharashtra assembly, earlier today. #Mumbai
AJIT REACHES OUT TO UNCLE AFTER STEPPING DOWN
On Tuesday, hours after resigning as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar travelled to the south Mumbai home of his uncle, NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
He reached out to Pawar senior, having been persuaded by NCP leaders asking that he return to the party fold, PTI reported. He had been sacked as the NCP’s legislature party leader at the weekend.
Some loyalists of Ajit Pawar in Baramati, his constituency, distributed sweets after he resigned; they felt he shouldn’t take an “extreme step” like quitting politics.
So, all’s well that ends well?
Prasanta Patnaik