Baramati, April 6 (IANS) In a sharp rebuke to the Congress party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar on Monday expressed strong displeasure over its recent political manoeuvres in Maharashtra, especially its move to contest the Baramati bypoll, warning that the “mature party” may face a significant backlash from the public.​

He characterised the Congress party’s recent actions as a sign of decline. “It is extremely wrong for such a mature party, which has such senior leaders, to take this decision. I feel this is the downfall of Congress in Maharashtra,” he commented.​

Speaking to the press regarding the current political friction, Parth Pawar clarified that there has been no formal dialogue between the two sides recently. ​

He questioned the strategic direction of the Congress high command, stating, “I haven’t spoken to anyone. They [Congress] should understand what needs to be done. I don’t know about their national leadership; they are all big people, and everyone knows what is happening.”​

He warned that the party might be underestimating the public’s affection for “Dada” (Ajit Pawar). “If they have made a decision, let them. But they will later see the trouble it causes them in Maharashtra. People do not forget.”​

“We cannot stop anyone. When the time comes, you have to face it. We will face it; we aren’t going to call anyone. Whatever is written in fate, we shall see. I just feel bad for the state of the Congress party,” said Parth Pawar.​

Pawar’s comment suggested a deepening rift within the alliance, signalling that the NCP is prepared to move forward independently of Congress’s current stance. ​

By invoking “fate” and refusing to initiate further negotiations, he signalled a “wait and watch” approach, placing the onus of any future fallout squarely on the Congress leadership.​

Meanwhile, the Congress party has shot back, sharply attacking Parth Pawar over his comment. ​

“Isn’t it a bit too much for a son, who can’t even deliver a speech properly and has just become an MP thanks to the accumulated merits of his family, to be talking about the downfall of the Congress party?” asked the Congress party.​

In its post on X, the Congress party further stated: “It would be better if this ungrateful son, who stayed silent as a political convenience to escape scrutiny in the land scam investigation right after his father’s suspicious accidental death, and who surrendered before the superpower, simply refrained from speaking about the Congress party altogether.”​

“To secure justice, the Karnataka government filed an FIR in their state; there, the government belongs to the Congress party, and the official candidate of the Congress party in the Baramati Assembly by‑election is demanding that the suspicious accident be registered as a crime in Maharashtra, threatening to withdraw from the election. Shouldn’t this ungrateful son speak up about this, too?” asked the Congress party.​

–IANS

sj/dan

​