- By Radha Basnet
- Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) engaged in a war of words over an article published in Organiser, a weekly known to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The article criticised the BJP for forming an alliance with the NCP.
The matter escalated further when the NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, "To some extent, it (article) may be true. Some have also criticised the BJP for including leaders from the Congress, such as former chief minister Ashok Chavan. Even former Congress leader Milind Deora was inducted by chief minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and made a Rajya Sabha member."
"But who will talk about the result in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP's seats decreased? What about other states where they lost some seats?" he asked.
However, NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel said the article does not reflect the official stance of the BJP and should not be interpreted in that manner. On the other hand, NCP youth wing leader Sooraj Chavan lashed out, saying that when the BJP performs well, the credit goes to the RSS, but defeats are blamed on Ajit Pawar.
Responding to Chavan's comments, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar said the RSS is like a "father figure" to the BJP and there is no need to comment about the organisation. He advised Chavan not to rush to comment on the RSS and stated that such issues should be discussed during NDA meetings, rather than engaging in a public war of words.
"The RSS is like a father figure to all of us. There is no need to make comments about the RSS. Sooraj Chavan should not have rushed to comment on the organisation. The BJP has not commented against the NCP. It would be better if such issues are discussed during NDA meetings," news agency PTI quoted Darekar as saying.
