Sharad Pawar visited Raigad fort for first time in 40 years; credit goes to Ajit Pawar: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday suggested political compulsions post the NCP split forced Sharad Pawar to visit historic Raigad fort for the first time in 40 yearsIn a dig at the Pawar senior Fadnavis said NCP leader and deputy CM Ajit Pawar should be given the credit for his uncles visit to the fortRaigad Fort played a major role in the Maratha history After being crowned the king of the Maratha kingdom Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj chose the hill fort as his capitalEarlier in the day Sharad Pawar unveiled the man blowing trumpet symbol allotted to his Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar group by the Election Commission from this fortAfter Ajit dada took a stand to join the state government last July Sharad Pawar visited Raigad fort for the first time in the last 40 years Credit goes to Ajit Pawar Fadnavis told reporters in PuneQueried if the names of exUnion minister Narayan Rane and state assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar are finalised as BJP candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha polls Fadnavis evaded a direct replyA candidate is not finalised just after holding initial discussions We will chair some meetings before finalising candidates of Mahayuti comprising Shiv Sena BJP and NCP he addedMeanwhile NCP chief Sharad Pawar Saturday said the guarantee or promises given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of the country was never fulfilledHe was speaking at the first gathering of the workers of the oppositions INDIA bloc in the city a program which was also attended by Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole and Shiv Sena UBT leader Sachin AhirTodays gathering is historic A change will be seen in Maharashtra and the country in the coming elections The prime minister is trying to take the country on a different path The rulers of the country are not working for the betterment of the people Farmers are in deep trouble Pawar saidFarmers have been protesting against the Union government for more than a year but it is not paying attention to them he claimedWhere is Modis guarantee today PM Modi gave multiple assurances but they were never fulfilled Pawar saidPM Modi said in Bhopal that the NCP is a corrupt party I challenge this statement If theres any kind of scam in the Maharashtra Cooperative Bank or irrigation projects let there be an inquiry The government is misusing power by arresting opposition leaders and using agencies such as the ED CBI Income Tax the veteran politician further saidCongress leader Patole said people of the state should be saved from the rampant trade of narcotic drugsThe state government gave many assurances about reservation to the Maratha and Dhangar communities but failed to fulfill them he said alleging that the Eknath Shindeled regime created a conflict between the Maratha and OBC communitiesIt was time the BJP which has committed many sins was ousted from power Patole added With inputs from PTI