Pawars Use The ED Probe To Take On The BJP

The Pawars use the ED probe to take on the BJP, but the differences between Sharad Pawar and nephew Ajit have not gone unnoticed.

- Dnyanesh Jathar

ON SEPTEMBER 25, after the Enforcement Directorate named Sharad Pawar an accused in the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam, the Nationalist Congress Party president addressed a huge media gathering. He announced that he would be visiting the agency’s office in south Mumbai on September 27 to help it in its inquiry.

On the same day, nephew Ajit Pawar (also named in the scam) told state assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade that he wanted to meet on September 27. When Bagade asked whether Ajit was bringing along someone who had resigned from another party to join the NCP, Ajit said he would explain in person.

On September 27, when Pawar was set to visit the ED office, accompanied by almost all senior NCP leaders, Ajit was absent. He had been in Pune and Baramati earlier in the day to coordinate relief work for those affected by flash floods. He said he had left Pune early to reach Mumbai, but had got stuck in traffic as thousands of NCP workers were coming to Mumbai to support Pawar. Eventually, the senior Pawar did not go to the ED office; Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve had urged him not to do so as it could have led to a law and order situation. ED officials also conveyed to Pawar that his presence was not required and they had no intention of questioning him.

In one fell swoop, Pawar had managed to turn the tables on the ED and had created a perception that he was being victimised by the BJP government at the Centre. That too just before the crucial state elections. His statement that “Maharashtra will not bow down before Delhi” energised party workers.

But then, like a bolt from the blue, there was news that Ajit Pawar had tendered his resignation as legislator to Bagade. “We did not know what had happened suddenly,” said an NCP leader close to Ajit. “He had switched offhis phone and had instructed close aides to do the same.”