Today is the 25th anniversary of the NCP. On the occasion of the party’s anniversary, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s faction organized a meeting at Shanmukanand Hall in Mumbai. MP Sunil Tatkare gave a fiery speech at this event. He said, “As the party president, I welcome everyone. You have seen the progress of the party for twenty-five years. He raised the issue of self-respect and against foreign citizenship. We also saw that the stand taken has to be changed. The Congress leadership was criticized at that time. NCP senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal worked hard in 1999. After the election results, Sharad Pawar took the lead against foreign citizenship. We went with him”, Sunil Tatkare said.
”Chhagan Bhujbal was the deputy chief minister of the state from 1999 to 2004. Later, the NCP won 76 seats. The Aghadi and the alliance have the most seats, they are with the chief minister. The opportunity had come. But it was said that if Chhagan Bhujbal was made the chief minister, the party would break. The number of MLAs in the party was secret. You did not release the figures at that time. Votes were received for the legislative party. If Chhagan Bhujbal had been given the post of chief minister, the number of MLAs would have increased,” Sunil Tatkare said.
‘Then there won’t be any need to look back today’
“Ajit Dada was a new man at that time. I am a bit fond of history. Sharad Pawar has gone down in history as a young Chief Minister. Ajit Pawar was a minister from 1999 to 2004. When Sharad Pawar became the Chief Minister for the first time, he had seven years of experience. Ajit Pawar had seven years of experience. But he was not made the Chief Minister. Sunil Tatkare claimed that if he had given a chance to the NCP and had taken over the post of Chief Minister, he would not have looked back today.
‘That Thackeray made us the Chief Minister in 2019’
“In 2014, BJP was supported from outside. There was talk of going with BJP in 2014 and joining Shiv Sena in 2009. In 2014, the formula of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP was 16-16-16 seats. But things did not work out. I was going to go with BJP in 2016. We had gone to decide when the government will be sworn in, the final decision will be taken. In 2016, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena did not work for us. In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray became our Chief Minister”, Sunil Tatkare said.
“Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel took a stand to participate in the national stream. President’s rule should be imposed in 2019. The BJP-Shiv Sena Mahagathbandhan got the majority. Uddhav Thackeray was given the majority. The Maha Vikas Aghadi government came. Tatkare said, “Uddhav Thackeray was given the post of Chief Minister.”
‘Ajit Pawar’s self-respect has taken a blow’
“Sharad Pawar was insulted. Some incidents happened at that time. Ajit Pawar’s self-respect was hurt. Then the oath ceremony was held in the morning. What happened at Nehru Centre that was an attack on self-respect? Eknath Shinde went to Guwahati in 2022. 53 MLAs wrote a letter and decided to go with the BJP. A letter was given to Sharad Pawar. Sharad Pawar had formed a committee of three people. Sunil Tatkare claimed that a committee was formed to discuss with the BJP.
