As Ajit Pawar grows wings, Delhi is only a flight away | Political Pulse Information

In his new function because the nationwide president of the NCP and a valued ally of the BJP – to not point out husband to new Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar – Ajit has joined the ranks of the Capital’s semi-permanent residents.

And as luck – and a few would say, extra – would have it, Sunetra has been allotted a bungalow proper reverse Sharad Pawar’s residence in Delhi. As a first-time MP, she is often not entitled to the Kind-VII bungalow, the second-highest class of presidency lodging. However, as a Rajya Sabha supply stated, each the Chairman and the Home Committee chairperson can allot homes larger than the class a member is entitled to.

The additional room has come useful as Ajit flies down ceaselessly to carry talks with the highest BJP management, earlier for seats forward of the elections and now for Cupboard portfolios. That is regardless of the presence of no less than two senior NCP colleagues in Delhi – Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare.

Previous to the NCP cut up in July 2023, Ajit usually reiterated his choice for state politics. “Supriya (Sule) is within the Lok Sabha, Saheb (Sharad Pawar) is in Delhi, and I’m in Maharashtra,” he was fond of claiming.

When Ajit did come to Delhi, it was largely in his capability as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister in Congress-NCP governments, for official enterprise, or generally to attend social gathering occasions.

Ajit was by no means seen on the dais along with his uncle after which NCP president Sharad Pawar at any of the UPA conferences, nor would he take up questions on nationwide politics throughout his press conferences.

The primary indicators of the change got here after he cut up the NCP and took a giant chunk of the social gathering with him, earlier than becoming a member of the BJP-Shinde Sena authorities in Maharashtra. Since then, bargaining with the BJP over varied points has stored bringing Ajit to the Capital.

Not too long ago, he mingled freely with mediapersons in Delhi, having detailed talks with them, answering all their queries. It was a primary for the NCP chief in additional methods than one, as he isn’t one to let his guard down.

Prior to now two weeks, the Cupboard discussions have seen Ajit make two visits to Delhi. Quickly after his first go to, which he stated was to take a look at the bungalow allotted to Sunetra, the Earnings Tax Division cleared properties value over Rs 1,000 crore that had been seized from him and his family members in 2021. This was after the Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal dismissed accusations that these had been benami properties.

Ajit’s second go to was Thursday, when he dropped in at Sharad Pawar’s residence to want him on his birthday, alongside along with his members of the family and social gathering leaders. He additionally visited Parliament to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Residence Minister Amit Shah.

One cause behind these frequent Delhi visits is the sport of one-upmanship between BJP allies in Maharashtra, with Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, who earlier reluctantly accepted to turn into Deputy CM together with Ajit, bargaining arduous for prime portfolios. Shinde is believed to have a very good rapport with the BJP Delhi management, and Ajit – who’s seen to be extra near CM Devendra Fadnavis – would wish to change that.

An NCP chief stated: “Ajit Pawar is the nationwide president of the NCP. He’s the ultimate authority inside our social gathering. What’s incorrect if he’s travelling to Delhi to debate issues with different allies?”

A senior MLA of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction stated: “Ajit Pawar can’t get his calls for accepted sitting in Mumbai. There may be no person to do this on his behalf… He must personally oversee Shinde’s strikes as nicely.”