Sharad Pawar raises inquiry against ally with PM saying it is unfair

New Delhi: Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader today, raised the central probe agencies' action against leaders of the Maharashtra's ruling coalition and other politicians critical of the BJP in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both men spoke for about 20 minutes in the PM's office in parliament, hours after the Enforcement Directorate confiscated properties of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut and a relative of AAP leader and Delhi minister Satyendra Jain in an alleged money laundering case

"On what basis was action taken against Sanjay Raut? This is injustice. What's the provocation for action against Raut - just because he is making some statements?", Sherad Pawar talked to reporters about his meeting with PM Modi.

Sharad Pawar's party leader Anil Deshmukh was taken into custody this morning by the CBI.

As well, he denied any turmoil within the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition which he helped forge after the Shiv Sena ended its alliance with the BJP.

"We will fight together in next elections...the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi). There is a stability, I am answering these questions for the last two-and-a-half years," Pawar said.

In a particularly noteworthy development, the PM met with one of the most senior opposition figures months before the election. Pawar again stressed his inability to lead the UPA coalition that, led by the Congress, ruled for a decade.

"I am not ready to be UPA chairperson and we don't want to disturb the present set up," he said.

Dismissing questions about whether he would return to the Congress to revive the party, the NCP leader said dissidents in the Congress were "asking for more strength".

Despite being one of the leaders of the opposition, Mr Pawar has firmly refused to lead the UPA.

He had recently said he was not interested in such a position, even if it was meant to rally the opposition for a united front against the BJP in the 2024 elections.

Nonetheless, Mr Pawar has played a pivotal role in forming alliances and marshalling opposition forces and was seen to be actively planning a united fight against the BJP.

In addition, Mr Pawar said he had discussed with the PM a list of 12 candidates for the state Legislative Council which has been pending for many years.

Over the past two years, the state government has sought the Governor's approval of its list of nominees for the legislative council.

Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis responded to allegations that central agencies were being misused against the Maharashtra government, "When they send officers to the residences of our leaders even when they are not at fault, we say we'll go to the court as we trust it. But when ED takes action on basis of evidence, they are criticized."