Sharad Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal to share dias

A day after Asha Kaki, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's mother, expressed hope that the Pawars should reconcile their differences, after she offered prayers at the Lord Vitthal temple in Pandharpur, and senior NCP leader Praful Patel echoed her sentiment, Yugendra Pawar, NCP (SP) leader and Ajit Pawar's nephew, said the first move for unity should be made by "those who exited the party".

- Abhay Khairnar

PUNE: National working president of NCP (SP) Supriya Sule however declined comment on the issue.

Speaking to Hindustan Times over the phone, Yugendra Pawar said, "When the two sides split, Sharad Pawar did not go anywhere, but the other side moved away. If both sides have to come together politically now, then the faction that left Sharad Pawar must take the first step."

Yugendra Pawar, 32, contested the assembly elections in Baramati against his uncle, Ajit Pawar. Ajit secured a decisive victory, defeating Yugendra by over 100,000 votes.

On the possibility of reconciliation, Yugendra emphasised that the family's personal relationships had remained intact despite political differences.