After Modi and Jaitley,now Fadnavis visits Pawar bastion

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the latter's home turf in Baramati, and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley followed it up with a visit last month, it was now the turn of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to come calling.

Pawar hosted Fadnavis in Baramati on Friday, like he did with senior BJP leaders Modi and Jaitley. Fadnavis inaugurated a three-day agro exhibition organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Baramati. Fadnavis, who reached the venue in a battery operated vehicle, was also taken around the exhibition by Pawar. The NCP chief occupied the front seat of the vehicle while Fadnavis and agriculture minister Eknath Khadse sat behind.

At the inaugural event, in the Appasaheb Pawar auditorium, Pawar reminded Fadnavis that three years ago Maharashtra was leading in pulses production. During his visit to Baramati last month, Jaitley had showered praise on Pawar and called for replication of 'Baramati model' for development of the country. "The country would require hundreds of cities like Baramati for the progress of the economy," Jaitley had said.

In February this year, Modi had addressed a farmers rally organised by Pawar in Baramati. Speaking at the rally, the Prime Minister had lauded the Maratha strongman and had talked about their friendship.
"Sharadrao has years of experience and he knows more than I do. It's my responsibility to seek his guidance when I am faced with an issue," Modi had said.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who is facing a probe by ACB in an alleged irrigation scam, was also present at today's event at Baramati. Fadnavis recently made it clear that the visits of high profile government functionaries to Baramati won't affect the probe.