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Sharad Pawar is our power, we are Pawar’s power: Bhujbal`

Bhujbal, still licking his wounds after Ajit Pawar was made DyCM, shows strength in function to commemorate Phule anniv

Devidas Deshpande

Posted On Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 11:12:36 PM

From left: MP Sameer Bhujbal, MLA Pankaj Bhujbal, and Chhagan Bhujbal at an event which saw a crowd of 35,000

Even though Chhagan Bhujbal declined to accept it, the much expected event of unveiling Savitribai Phule's statue turned out to be a show of strength for the man who wanted to be in Ajit Pawar’s shoes.

With the B J Medical ground filled to capacity with his supporters, Ajit Pawar, who snatched the deputy chief minister’s seat from Bhujbal, needed no other proof of the mass base that the latter has enjoyed.

The rally saw at least 40,000 people. The organisers claimed the attendance was a seam-bursting 50,000. Also, Ajit Pawar’s uncle, Union Agriculture Minister and national president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) preferred not to be there at the event indicated his growing discomfort with Pawar junior’s rise.

Bhujbal, under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Samata Parishad, had invited Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar to the unveiling of a statue of Savitribai Phule on the occasion of the 120th death anniversary of Mahatma Phule.

The event was watched with utmost curiosity, since the Pawars and Bhujbal were coming together on a public platform for the first time in a long while. While Ajit Pawar made it to the function, Sharad Pawar chose to be at a meeting in Mumbai. This was the first time Pawar Sr skipped a function organised by Bhujbal.

The fact that it was Pune, makes the absence even more telling. Governor K Sankarnarayanan unveiled the bust of Savitribai Phule at Phule Wada in Ganj Peth.

After the unveiling, the Samata Melava (Equality Rally) took place at the B J Medical Ground. Bhujbal’s son Pankaj, an MLA, and nephew Sameer, an MP, Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal, and many legislators from the city were present, among others. Speaking at the function, Pawar Jr dwelt on his usual themes: social justice and development.

Later, Bhujbal was asked about the possible bitterness between him and Pawar Jr, and the present function being a signal to the younger DyCM about his importance, and he was not exactly comfortable fending off the questing.

“The guests for the function were decided on October 30 and there were no political considerations at that time. The whole Pawar family follows Satyshodhak thinking (progressive thinking as envisaged by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule) and saheb (Sharad Pawar) always supported the cause of the other backward classes (OBCs).

He and I share the same views on development of OBCs and this meeting should not be seen as a show of strength on my part, as the media thinks.” However, he quickly added, “Sharad Pawar is our power, and we are Pawar’s power.”

Referring to Nitish Kumar’s landslide victory in Bihar, Pawar Jr said, “In future, only development work will bring in votes. The politics of castes is fast vanishing.” This was in direct contradiction to the OBC politics played by Bhujbal and the Maratha politics subtly played by Pawar Sr.

Since Ajit Pawar has established his position in the NCP, both uncle and nephew have not shared any stage publicly. Bhujbal is considered to be a protégé of Pawar and even on Sunday, he professed his loyalty to the NCP chief. Political pundits believe the senior leader’s absence clearly shows a rift between uncle and nephew.

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Sharad Pawar is our power, we are Pawar’s power: Bhujbal`

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