Will meet PM Modi on July 18, discuss issues of farmers with him, says Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Saturday said he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 18 and will raise the issues faced by farmers in the state during the meeting PTI reportedPawar who bagged the key Finance and Planning portfolio on Friday said he and other Nationalist Congress Party NCP MLAs who joined the Eknath Shindeled government on July 2 were happy with the allocation of portfolios the report saidSpeaking during a media interaction here Pawar said I will meet PM Narendra Modi on July 18 During the meeting I will take up various issues related to farmers with him NCP leader Praful Patel and I will attend the National Democratic Alliance NDA meetingThe deputy CM arrived in Nashik to attend the Shasan Aplya Dari government at your doorstep programmeAsked about Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Rauts reported claim that as the Shindeled faction was not willing to part with the finance portfolio it was asked to give up the CMs post the NCP leader said I dont know This is an attempt to disturb the atmosphere unnecessarily We are happy with the portfolio allocationThere are around 14 vacant positions in the cabinet and expansion of the cabinet is the chief ministers prerogative he saidThe CM will decide I will not speak about it Pawar said in response to a query about the cabinet expansionThere are now 28 cabinet ministers in the Shindeled government but no minister of state The ministry can have a maximum of 43 members There was speculation that the state ministry expansion would also happen on Friday but it did not take placeAsked about the pending civic elections in the state Pawar said four to five issues including that of the Other Backward Classes OBC reservation are pending in the Supreme Court The Maharashtra Election Commission has issued orders to prepare electoral rolls he saidAfter the completion of electoral rolls and the top courts verdict on the concerned issues elections will be held in the state he addedThere will be equitable progress in the state and there will be no differences There are many communities and castes in the state We will take everyone along In Mahayuti grand alliance we will work in tandem and efforts will be taken for the development of all he saidWhen pointed out that NCP founder Sharad Pawars pictures were missing in the posters put up in Nashik to welcome him he said Pawar saheb is our inspiration our idol His photograph is there in my cabinAlso readDelhi HC directs district judges to prioritize cases for digitalizationSharad Pawars wife Pratibha Pawar underwent a surgery related to hand at the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai on Friday After the operation Ajit Pawar visited Silver Oak the official residence of the NCP supremo to meet Pratibha Pawar after she was discharged from hospitalTalking about his visit he said politics and family are different thingsWe value family and traditions Kaki Pratibha Pawar had some injury and was operated upon I wanted to go in the afternoon but could not go and therefore visited in the evening Pawar saheb kaki and Supriya Sule were thereThere was no discussion on politics Pawar saidOn the NCP name and symbol Pawar said We are in the government to solve peoples issues No ones legislature membership will be in problem We will not hurt the faith of those who have supported usSpeaking about the prevailing water situation he said the state has not recorded sufficient rainfall so far this yearWater level in dams has gone down and there is a need to use water carefully Pawar saidPawar arrived in Nashik by Vande Bharat Express train where he was accorded a warm welcome by his supporters It was his first visit to Nashik after becoming part of the Shindeled government PTI