Pune: Sharad Pawar speaks about loyalty in Dilip Walse Patil’s constituency

Pune: NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar on Thursday (October 31) took a potshot at his former party close aide and State Minister Dilip Walse Patil.

Pawar said, “He (Walse Patil) took a wrong stance to enjoy power. The people in Ambegaon taluka received a big shock due to his stance. Now, they will show him what loyalty means.”

There is a direct contest between NCP (SP) candidate Devdatta Nikam and NCP (AP) Minister Dilip Wales Patil. Sharad Pawar addressed a press meet, where he said that citizens from Ambegaon taluka would vote for the NCP (SP) and criticised Walse Patil.

Sharad Pawar said, “This time around, the NCP (SP), the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have formed an alliance in the State Assembly elections. Five years ago, the NCP was not divided. We won 54 seats then. Ambegaon and Baramati MLAs were made ministers. Before that, Pune district had never got two State Ministers. We wanted to give representation to people in the tribal, drought-prone belt in the upper reaches of the district.

“They were successful due to party workers. They got an opportunity to serve the district for three years. Some colleagues went to the other side and painted a wrong picture. They took the stand for the sake of power, which was not appropriate. People were more shocked due to the stand taken by the leader from Ambegaon (Walse Patil).

“During my tenure as the Union Agriculture Minister, I was solving farmers’ issues with your cooperation. But some people made a different decision. The people from Ambegaon have always supported me. They have not liked the decision taken by their leaders (Walse Patil). Power is transitory. The common people decide after checking how some leaders grab power.

“Many leaders have left my party earlier. The people from the taluka trust me. Fortunately, leaders such as Devdatta Nikam are with us today. He has worked for 10 years for the Bhima Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana. Please campaign for him and ensure his victory. Demonstrate how loyalty should be.”