There is growing unrest among senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) as they are being asked to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The issue was laid bare during a review meeting of the party on Monday.
Senior ministers even questioned why NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s nephew and deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, was spared when other seniors were being forced to contest the elections.
Senior party ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil, Jaidutt Kshirsagar and Ganesh Naik have been upset ever since party leadership, under the plan of Pawar and his nephew Ajit, made it clear nearly a year ago that they should be ready to quit the state cabinet and contest LS elections.
However, the party has made it clear that the merit for winning seats was more important that the wish of the leaders and contesting heavyweights would increase the chances of grabbing 15 to 16 seats in the state.