Following major churn in Maharashtra politics, which saw Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP leaders taking oath as ministers in the BJP-Shiv Sena government, all eyes will be on their visit
Despite being political rivals, Prime Minister and Sharad Pawar have shared the stage on multiple occasions. Back in 2016, Modi at an event in Pune had said he has no hesitation in accepting that Pawar held his hand and taught him to walk in his early days in Gujarat.
Amid a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joining hands with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) government in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are likely to share dais for an event in Pune on August 1. Recently sworn-in deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is also likely to be present for the same function.
In Pune, PM Modi will be conferred with Lokmanya Tilak National Award for 2023 in recognition of his “supreme leadership” and for “awakening the feeling of patriotism among citizens”, organisers of the event Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust said on Monday.
Both the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Pawar senior have accepted the invitation, according to Rohit Tilak, great-grandson of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak and vice president of Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust.
“The Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust (Hind Swaraj Sangh) will confer the Lokmanya Tilak National Award upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1, the 103rd death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak,” Trust president Deepak Tilak said in a press release.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has been invited to the programme as a chief guest, according to organisers.
The call to Prime Minister for confirmation for attending the award ceremony, interestingly, was made by Sharad Pawar himself days before Modi attacked NCP and subsequently, days later his nephew Ajit rebelled and took away the majority of party MLAs on July 2.
Earlier on June 25, the Prime Minister, while speaking in Madhya Pradesh recounted allegations of corruption against NCP members. Four days later on June 29, Sharad Pawar responded to the allegations.
However, when asked if his personal relations with Modi following allegations have turned sour, Pawar senior replied saying, opposition to Modi is not personal, it is political. Pawar senior also cited how he called Modi for Lokmanya Tilak National Award at the request of Rohit Tilak as the latter did not have direct access to the PMO.
