A day after Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete called NCP chief Sharad Pawar a “backstabber”, his party colleague Sanjay Raut said that the veteran leader is the “main pillar” of the coalition government in Maharashtra.
Geete, a former Union minister, said that Pawar had “backstabbed” the Congress to form his party and he cannot be a “guru” for Shivsainiks.
He also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress is just an “adjustment”.
Responding to Geete’s remarks, Raut asserted that Pawar is a leader of the country and that the MVA government and the arrangement of the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP will continue for five years.
“I don’t know what Anant Geete has said, I would only say that Sharad Pawar is a big leader, he is the main pillar of government in Maharashtra. It may be someone’s personal opinion but it is not the statement of party,” he said.
“The arrangement in Maharashtra is of three parties. Sharad Pawar is a leader of the country. Be it Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, the Congress all have formed the (MVA) government. This arrangement will go on for five years and it has acceptance from entire Maharashtra,” he added.
Pawar is considered the architect of the MVA government which came to power after the Sena snapped ties with the BJP following the 2019 Assembly polls and joined hands with the NCP and Congress.
Addressing a public rally in his home turf Raigad on Monday, Geete said, “Sharad Pawar cannot ever be our leader as this government (MVA) is merely an adjustment. Let people use as many accolades for Pawar but our ‘guru’ is only (late) Balasaheb Thackeray.”
“Pawar had formed his party by backstabbing Congress. If Congress and NCP cannot become one, the Shiv Sena also cannot toe the Congress policy entirely. Congress and NCP were not cordial always,” the Sena leader said.
The NCP chief recently kicked up a controversy by comparing the Congress to an impoverished landlord who cannot look after his house anymore. He had also said that Congress leaders were very “sensitive” about the issue of leadership and not open to any suggestions.
