Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | MVA win in Maharashtra will hit Centre, claims Jitendra Awhad; uses 'pocketmaar' jibe for Ajit Pawar

Thane: NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad has claimed Nitish Kumar of JD(U) and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu would withdraw their support to the BJP-led Centre if MVA is voted to power in Maharashtra.

The sitting MLA from the Mumbra-Kalwa assembly constituency, also targeted Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and said the latter was heading a "pocketmaar (pickpocket) gang" that had stolen the NCP name and symbol.

Awhad, who has been renominated by his party, targeted the Eknath Shinde government over the state’s “financial instability” and accused the BJP and RSS of trying to disrupt peace in the country.

If the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) forms the government after the November 20 assembly elections, BJP’s allies at the Centre Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu will stop backing it, he claimed at a rally at Mumbra near Thane on Saturday.

Once back in the saddle, MVA will “provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000”, said Awhad without elaborating. The BJP-led Mahayuti government cannot even meet essential expenses like police salaries, he said.

Awhad said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who triggered the acrimonious split in the NCP last year, had alienated his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar from the activities of the outfit. He also accused Ajit Pawar of “straying towards RSS ideologies”.

"This is a pocketmaar (pickpocket) gang. If Ajit Pawar was man enough, he would not have aligned with the BJP," Awhad said.

The jibe evoked a stinging response from minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal who said Awhad must be careful with his words.

"The decision on the party name and symbol was given by the courts and Election Commission of India. One should be careful while making such comments," Bhujbal said.

Thane NCP leader Anand Paranjape too hit out at Awhad and dubbed him ungrateful.

Paranjape, while showing an old video of the MLA's wife making a statement, claimed Awhad got ministerial posts in the past due to Ajit Pawar.

"If he has any sense of dignity, he must show respect for this help," Paranjape said slamming Awhad.

Speaking at the Mumbra rally, Awhad said the BJP-led Mahayuti government had failed in curbing communal violence in the state.

He also slammed CM Shinde for sharing the stage with religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj, accused of making objectionable comments against Islam.

Three-term MLA Awhad faces NCP's Najeeb Mulla in the Mumbra-Kalwa constituency.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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