Tanaji Sawant, Maharashtra health minister is a trusted lieutenant of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. But his foot-in-the-mouth tendency has often brought trouble for him and his leaders.
Sawant yesterday said that he was a true Shiv Sainik who did not like sharing stage or cabinet meeting space with Congress and NCP leaders. He further complicated things by stating that he feels like vomiting when he sits close to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in meetings.
These statements have caused an outburst of anger among NCP Ajit Pawar leaders and cadres.
During the CM tenure of Devendra Fadnavis, Sawant claimed that a dam in Chiplun was burst because crabs had damaged its foundation. On another occasion, when he was asked about Haffkine Institute, a government body in Mumbai known for making medicines, Sawant wondered if Haffkine was a person.
And now comes his statement against Ajit Pawar.
NCP Ajit Pawar leader Amol Mitkari attacked Sawant and said if the Shinde Shiv Sena does not rein in Sawant then there would be a tit for tat.
Umesh Patil, a spokesman for NCP Ajit Pawar demanded that Sawant should be sacked from state cabinet. If that doesn't happen then NCP Ajit Pawar will walk out of the saffron alliance, Patil reportedly stated. "Our ministers will boycott cabinet meetings," he added.
Meanwhile, Reacting to Minister Tanaji Sawant’s recent comments, on DyCm Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) Chief Spokesperson, Mahesh Tapase said that DyCM Ajit Pawar has lost all self-respect and there is growing discomfort within the ranks of the Shinde-led government.
Tapase also expressed disbelief that how Ajit Pawar’s party would tolerate such an insult. "I never imagined that Ajit Dada, who once commanded immense respect within the NCP, would compromise his self-respect for power," Tapase added. He further criticised Ajit Pawar’s decision to break away from Sharad Pawar’s party, questioning the price of such a move, which appears to have led to public humiliation rather than political gain.
Tapase pointed out that dissatisfaction within the ruling coalition has been simmering for some time. The RSS and BJP have openly held Ajit Pawar responsible for the BJP’s setbacks in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, further straining relations within the mahayuti alliance.
The growing discomfort among Shinde Sena members over Ajit Pawar’s inclusion in the government has now been starkly revealed through Sawant’s remarks.
Ajit Pawar, who justified his decision to break away from Sharad Pawar & join the Shinde government as a move for development, was supported by senior leaders like Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Sunil Tatkare. However, Tapase questioned why these leaders have remained silent in the face of such blatant disrespect. "Minister Tanaji Sawant’s statement has effectively erased Ajit Dada’s political standing, and yet, his own party members remain silent," Tapase said in a statement.