"Alliance Is Strong": Ajit Pawar Plays Down State Congress Chief's Charge

Ajit Pawar said that Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan have clarified that the alliance government in the state was strong.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said that despite some statements made by state Congress chief Nana Patole, the latter's colleagues Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan have clarified that the alliance government in the state was strong and working unitedly. Queried on whether Mr Patole's recent remarks pointed to lack of unity in the ruling coalition, Mr Pawar said such statements are made in closed-door meetings to boost the morale of party workers. "Even if such statements were made, other Congress leaders like Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan have clarified that the (MVA) alliance is strong and we all are working together. Even Patole echoed similar sentiments later," he said, adding that the entire Congress party was working as one under the leadership of its chief Sonia Gandhi. Mr Pawar refuted media reports that he had discussed this issue with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and also rubbished others which said the Zoting Commission report had indicted BJP-turned-Nationalist Congress Party leader Eknath Khadse in a land deal.