Bitter foes patch up to face crucial test in state assembly elections.
Humbled by serious reverses in the recent Lok Sabha elections, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar publicly acknowledged on Friday that he had erred in not assisting Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi in his election campaign.
Pawar, who had refused to cooperate with Kalmadi during the Lok Sabha polls despite a Congress-NCP alliance, sought to end his bitter rivalry with Kalmadi over lunch at the latter’s residence in Pune. For the last two-and-a-half years, Kalmadi and Pawar had shared a bitter relationship.
On Friday, Pawar told reporters that it was he who had sought a luncheon meeting at Kalmadi’s residence off Karve Road. His wife Sunetra accompanied him.
Kalmadi who was asked if he felt victorious with Pawar’s visit to his residence, said, “I was victorious at the time of the Lok Sabha elections.” When asked if this marked a second victory for him, Kalmadi chose to remain silent.
While addressing a party workers’ rally recently, Pawar had mentioned that he would meet Kalmadi to end their differences and ensure the success of the Congress-NCP alliance.
Friday’s luncheon meeting, which began at 1.25pm, lasted for almost 90 minutes. Also present was All-India Congress Committee observer Harbans Singh to discuss the issue of rebels with Pawar.
Speaking to journalists after lunch, Pawar said that during the Lok Sabha elections it was felt that campaigning by NCP president Sharad Pawar and his cousin Supriya Sule would be adequate and therefore he did not participate in Pune.
“There were some mistakes on our part and we felt that we should come together as we belong to like-minded parties,” he said.
The senior NCP leader expressed satisfaction over his talks with Kalmadi and stressed on the need for joint efforts to form the government in the state.
Pawar acknowledged the presence of NCP rebels in the district at Bhor, Indapur and Chinchwad and said that he would ask them to support the official Congress-NCP alliance candidates.
The Kalmadis’ house wore a jubilant look with the Congress MP’s trusted lieutenants, including city unit president Abhay Chhajed, Aba Bagul and others, eagerly waiting for the special guests. Pawar was accompanied by former city mayor and NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakade. Only the Pawar and Kalmadi family members were present for lunch.
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