Pune: State cooperation minister Dilip Walse Patil of Ajit Pawar-led NCP said on Sunday that he has not deserted his mentor Sharad Pawar but he and other NCP MLAs joined the state govt to complete development works in their respective constituencies. He was speaking at an event in Ambegaon, his assembly constituency, on Sunday. Walse Patil said that his respect for Pawar will remain.
"Many say I left Sharad Pawar. However, they do not know the party's internal matters. There is no question of leaving Sharad Pawar.
My respect for him will remain forever," Walse Patil said. In 2023, when Ajit Pawar split the party, Walse Patil was among the MLAs who went with him. It came as a big surprise as he was among Pawar's closest associates of Pawar.
On Sunday, Walse Patil said, "A meeting (of undivided NCP MLAs) was held in which Ajit Pawar proposed that we should join govt. Nearly 40 MLAs supported his proposal. We joined not for any ministerial post but to complete unfinished development work.
If I were not part of the cabinet, funds worth crores of rupees for the villages in my constituencies would not have come." He said politicians have to take such steps based on the political scenario. "The present politics witnessed changes and we responded to the situation.
That's why we joined the Mahayuti alliance . That does not mean I have enmity towards Pawar," Walse Patil added..
