Stay away from scams: NCP chief

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, on Friday, advised his newly inducted cabinet ministers to avoid getting embroiled in any scam or controversy like the Adarsh housing society scam, which led to the resignation of the state’s chief minister

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, on Friday, advised his newly inducted cabinet ministers to avoid getting embroiled in any scam or controversy like the Adarsh housing society scam, which led to the resignation of the state’s chief minister. Pawar also told them to stay on amicable terms with the ally and new Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

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In a two-hour long meeting with the entire NCP cabinet, along with senior party leaders like state party president Madhukar Pichad, Pawar chatted with his ministers before they begin work on Saturday. The NCP chief made it clear that party ministers should ensure that they do not get involved in controversies.

“If you get caught in a scam, you go. That was the message,’’ said a party source. Pawar also told his ministers to go easy on their ally, Congress and new Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Pawar said that Chavan had met him and requested his cooperation for running the government.

“He said that Chavan seemed uncomfortable about NCP’s reaction (to him) and party ministers would have to get along with Congress counterparts to run the coalition government,’’ said a party minister, who was present in the meeting. This is also being seen as Pawar ticking off his nephew Ajit to ensure that he toes the line and doesn’t throw his weight around.