Pune: Ajit Pawar accepts responsibility for defeat in Lok Sabha polls

Pune: Deputy Chief Minister and NCP (AP) President Ajit Pawar has accepted the responsibility for the poor show of his party and the Maha Yuti in Maharashtra, particularly in Baramati.

He was speaking to the media after his party MLAs’ meet. Pawar said that he did not speak to the media after the Lok Sabha election results. “We did not get the expected success. We are not happy about the results in Maharashtra. I think that I am responsible for the drubbing. I accept the people’s mandate. All MLAs are with me. Not a single MLA is unhappy. I am surprised with the result in Baramati. I still don’t know how it happened,” said Pawar.

Ajit Pawar called a meeting of the MLAs from his party at a hotel in the city. However, some MLAs preferred to stay away from it. Sources said that those who abstained from the meeting had forwarded personal reasons. There were discussions about this in political circles. Ajit Pawar finally broke his silence on the issue.

In the backdrop of a setback to the Maha Yuti and a comeback of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, all political parties are forming their future strategies by correcting their mistakes and taking a stand.

Hard decisions in the future

Ajit Pawar said, “I am surprised that Baramatikars did not support me. I can understand how we fared in other assembly segments but I did not expect it from the Baramati Assembly Constituency. The Muslim community has gone away from us. There was a campaign on changing the Constitution and we could not counter it. The Maha Yuti did not get a single seat, except Chh. Sambhajinagar, in Marathwada. We will have to make hard decisions in the future.”

He said, “I told Amol Mitkari that the briefing was different. Nothing happened in Baramati. I do not blame anyone. I could not perform. I accept the responsibility. Supriya Sule won. But I think that I could not perform. I tried to tell voters that the Constitution cannot be changed. But it did not click with them.”

Absence of NCP (AP) MLAs

The MLAs’ meeting was called on Thursday. However, five MLAs stayed away from it. NCP (AP) sources said that they had legitimate personal reasons. MLA Dharmarao Baba Atram is not well. Narhari Zirwal is in Russia. Sunil Tingre is out of station. Rajendra Shingne is sick. Anna Bansode had some personal reasons.