INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
MUMBAI: For NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the unkindest cut of all in this political upheaval was probably Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel's
decision to align with the Ajit Pawarfaction
The switch made by Patel, considered Sharad Pawar's most trusted ally, one who has never taken a political decision without his mentor's
knowledge, is being viewed as a personal setback for the NCP president.Read AlsoSidelined in party, Ajit Pawar's gameplan to take on uncle
Sharad was in works for a yearAjit Pawar had been drafting a strategy to take on Pawar and cousin Supriya for a year, sources said
cabinetNCP leader Ajit Pawar's induction in the Eknath Shinde-helmed state cabinet couldn't be more ironic
Shinde and the 39 MLAs, who raised a rebellion in the Shiv Sena, had last year blamed Ajit Pawar, as the then finance minister, of not
allocating funds for their constituencies
Moreover, they had"I am not upset with anybody except Praful Patel and Tatkare," said Pawar.A senior NCP leader said it was Sharad Pawar who
introduced Patel in politics
From chairman of the Gondia municipal council, Patel rose to become a Union cabinet member
He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991, and then there was no looking back
If he was defeated in polls, Pawar would ensured that he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha.For Patel, the most humiliating defeat was in
2014, when he lost to BJP nominee Nana Patole, who later joined Congress following differences with PM Modi
Significantly, immediately after his defeat, he was nominated to Rajya Sabha.For Sharad Pawar, Patel was a crisis manager
Recently, when Pawar resigned as NCP chief, it was Patel who resolved the dispute
Following his intervention, Sharad Pawar withdrew his resignation.Ever since NCP's formation in 1999, Patel has played a crucial role in
influencing allotment of seats for the Lok Sabha and state assembly and formation of cabinet
Further, Patel was also instrumental in the formation of the MVA government in view of his cordial relations with the Gandhi family and
veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel.06:54Not 'googly', it is a robbery, Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar joining NDA
