Pune: Internal rifts within ruling Mahayuti alliance have burst into the open with senior NCP leader and state cabinet minister Makarand Patil claiming his party is being “taken for granted” following the demise of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.Patil made the remarks in Satara on Tuesday while addressing a party workers’ meeting convened to rally support for BJP candidates Kaustubh Gawade and Smita Jadhav, who are contesting the Pune division graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies. Several NCP workers from Satara district boycotted the meeting, highlighting the differences within Mahayuti.During his speech, Patil acknowledged the resentment among the rank and file regarding their treatment by BJP.“Some party workers have expressed their disappointment, and it is a fact that after Ajit Pawar’s death, our party is being taken for granted,” Patil said. “The complaints of our supporters are genuine. There has been lingering anger since the zilla parishad polls. Even in the recent MLC elections, a seat that rightfully belonged to us was given to our alliance partner. I spoke my heart out and raised this issue during the party’s core committee meeting.”Despite his sharp critique, Patil urged workers to fall in line due to directives from top leadership. “Since our seniors have taken a call, and Sunetra vahini personally asked me to campaign for the Mahayuti candidates, I request all party workers to extend their support to them,” the minister added.Similar bickering has intensified between BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena over the Pune teachers’ constituency, where Shiv Sena is backing rebel candidate Sachin Sanap against BJP’s official nominee, Kaustubh Gawade.The dispute has triggered a war of words between cabinet colleagues. Speaking to the media in Solapur, senior BJP minister Jaykumar Gore dismissed the challenger, stating that “nobody knows Sanap.”Responding sharply, Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant countered, “Once the results are out for the MLC polls, everyone will know who Sanap is.”
