he Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) staunchly rebuffed the assertions made by Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, regarding the imposition of President’s rule in the state following the 2019 assembly polls, allegedly at the behest of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.
In a categorical dismissal, Mahesh Tapase, the chief spokesperson of the NCP, declared, “We wish to clarify that these claims are entirely baseless and lack any factual foundation.”
Tapase reminded Fadnavis that the decision to impose President’s rule in Maharashtra rested with the central government, emphasizing that any insinuation of Pawar’s influence was “false and misleading.” He attributed such statements to a deliberate attempt by BJP leaders to sow confusion among the electorate supportive of Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra.
Despite the BJP’s Operation Lotus, which aimed to undermine the NCP’s vote share, Tapase maintained that the party has withstood substantial damage in Maharashtra. He suggested that Fadnavis’ repeated attempts to confuse the electorate were indicative of the BJP’s inability to dent the NCP’s standing in the state.
“Our party is committed to transparency and accountability in governance,” asserted Tapase, highlighting the NCP’s dedication to democratic principles under the leadership of Sharad Pawar.
Expressing bewilderment at the BJP’s persistent focus on Pawar, Tapase questioned why the party couldn’t move beyond its fixation. He concluded by reminding the people of Maharashtra of the alleged failures of Fadnavis’ government, citing instances of infant deaths in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
