PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the decision to field his wife in the Rajya Sabha by-election was taken by his party NCP's apex body and refuted reports that senior aide Chhagan Bhujbal was unhappy with the move.
Days after losing the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati, Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra on Thursday filed her nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in Maharashtra. The by-election was necessitated after NCP leader Praful Patel vacated his seat in February and was elected to the upper house of parliament for a full six-year term.
Asked about media reports that Cabinet minister Bhujbal was angry after Sunetra Pawar's nomination, the NCP president said his party colleague himself had told him that he was not angry.
He said some people, including people from the opposition, and "our close friends" were spreading such news but there was no truth in them."The decision regarding the nomination was taken by the Parliamentary Board (the key decision making body of the NCP) and thereafter the papers were filed (by Sunetra Pawar). Due to the tragic death of Amol Kale (Mumbai Cricket Association President), Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis could have done this. I had also told Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a day ago that he was going to file nomination papers.
However, there are reports that NCP ally BJP and Shiv Sena leaders were not present at the time of filing nominations, he said."If I hadn't invited them, why would they be there?" Ajit Pawar asked.
He said that when Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination at Vidhan Bhawan in South Mumbai, prominent NCP leaders including Patel and Bhujbal were present.
Earlier in the day, Bhujbal said in Pune that he wants to become an MP and hence he wants to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik and is also keen on Rajya Sabha nomination.
Bhujbal was answering questions on reports which claimed that he was angry over Sunetra Pawar being given the Rajya Sabha ticket.
When asked whether injustice was done to him in getting Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha tickets, the prominent OBC leader said that this question should be asked to him.
“It is my desire (to become an MP).That is why I was ready to contest elections from Nashik Lok Sabha seat. As I was told that my ticket has been finalized in Delhi, I started working, but when the decision (to announce the name) dragged on for a month, I stopped working because it was quite humiliating. It was done,” Bhujbal said.
The 76-year-old politician emphasized that when it comes to party matters, not all things go as per one's wishes.
“There could be reasons (for not giving him ticket),” he said. Sometimes, it's destiny or some kind of compulsion,'' he said.On Thursday, Bhujbal had said that though he is keen on a Rajya Sabha ticket, he is not upset with Sunetra Pawar's nomination, which he described as a "collective decision" of the party.
Days after losing the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati, Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra on Thursday filed her nomination papers as the NCP candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in Maharashtra. The by-election was necessitated after NCP leader Praful Patel vacated his seat in February and was elected to the upper house of parliament for a full six-year term.
Asked about media reports that Cabinet minister Bhujbal was angry after Sunetra Pawar's nomination, the NCP president said his party colleague himself had told him that he was not angry.
He said some people, including people from the opposition, and "our close friends" were spreading such news but there was no truth in them."The decision regarding the nomination was taken by the Parliamentary Board (the key decision making body of the NCP) and thereafter the papers were filed (by Sunetra Pawar). Due to the tragic death of Amol Kale (Mumbai Cricket Association President), Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis could have done this. I had also told Chief Minister Eknath Shinde a day ago that he was going to file nomination papers.
However, there are reports that NCP ally BJP and Shiv Sena leaders were not present at the time of filing nominations, he said."If I hadn't invited them, why would they be there?" Ajit Pawar asked.
He said that when Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination at Vidhan Bhawan in South Mumbai, prominent NCP leaders including Patel and Bhujbal were present.
Earlier in the day, Bhujbal said in Pune that he wants to become an MP and hence he wants to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik and is also keen on Rajya Sabha nomination.
Bhujbal was answering questions on reports which claimed that he was angry over Sunetra Pawar being given the Rajya Sabha ticket.
When asked whether injustice was done to him in getting Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha tickets, the prominent OBC leader said that this question should be asked to him.
“It is my desire (to become an MP).That is why I was ready to contest elections from Nashik Lok Sabha seat. As I was told that my ticket has been finalized in Delhi, I started working, but when the decision (to announce the name) dragged on for a month, I stopped working because it was quite humiliating. It was done,” Bhujbal said.
The 76-year-old politician emphasized that when it comes to party matters, not all things go as per one's wishes.
“There could be reasons (for not giving him ticket),” he said. Sometimes, it's destiny or some kind of compulsion,'' he said.On Thursday, Bhujbal had said that though he is keen on a Rajya Sabha ticket, he is not upset with Sunetra Pawar's nomination, which he described as a "collective decision" of the party.
