Don't want division of NCP: Rebels to Sharad

The Maharashtra political drama is far from over. On Monday, rebel NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel and several party MLAs who defected with them visited YB Chavan Prathishthan at Nariman Point to seek Sharad Pawar's "guidance".

- Faisal Malik

MUMBAI: This was Ajit's third visit in the last four days to meet his uncle and NCP founder, baffling political analysts. Ajit requested Sharad Pawar to project a "united front". The NCP rebels told the media after an hourlong meeting that they had gone there to seek the octogenarian leader's "blessings" and not wanting a "split in NCP".

That these reconciliatory visits come within a fortnight of the much-trumpeted rebellion by Ajit when he declared that at 82, it was time for his uncle to retire, has led to much speculation about the possible causes for these overtures. Characteristically, Sharad Pawar, the most consummate of all politicians, has remained inscrutable, choosing to discuss the rains and the kharif crop with the rebel MLAs during his hour-long meeting with them on Monday.