NDA's Maha poor Lok Sabha show: NCP hits back at BJP for blaming Ajit Pawar; warns of taking 'different stand' on alliance
BJP and RSS members blaming the alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP for NDA's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls, NCP has now openly criticised BJP for putting the blame on its leader and has even warned that the party would be forced to take a «different stand» on the alliance if the targeting continued.
«We have come to know that BJP MLAs have blamed Ajit Pawar for the loss. I have to tell these people, if someone is deliberately targeting Ajit Pawar, then we would also have to think about taking a different stand,» warned Amol Mitkari, an NCP leader. Mitkari was reacting to claims that BJP MLAs in a review meeting have blamed BJP joining hands with Ajit for the party's election performance.
Other NCP leaders blamed BJP's leaders' utterances for the party's dismal show in the state. «What has happened with the Sangh is their own issue. There has been no loss (to BJP) because of Ajit Pawar. Instead the anger against BJP might have hurt us… BJP leaders kept talking about '400 paar' and about the constitution being changed… There is a large group of backward and OBC communities that follow Ajit Pawar and we tried our best to remedy the situation but BJP has some leaders who talk as they feel like and that's why we suffered this loss,» said Rupali Patil, NCP leader from Pune.
Patil said: «Within our alliance, even Shiv Sena acknowledges that the poll result is because of the irresponsible statements of some BJP leaders.» Patil's comments are seen as significant as she made the remarks minutes after meeting Ajit
