Ajit Pawar will beat a retreat, feels Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray

MUMBAI: Stating that there was no government in existence in Maharashtra after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's resignation, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said the junior Pawar will beat a retreat.

"After all, Ajit Pawar is treading the path of his uncle Sharad Pawar, who had once vowed never to return to Congress fold but he did return. Similarly, when Ajit has to face the trial by fire, he will beat a sudden retreat and give explanation for doing so," Thackeray said.

The Sena leader made these comments in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, commenting on the recent developments that have shaken the political landscape of Maharashtra.

"Sharad Pawar has been authorised to take the final decision (on the Ajit Pawar issue). If this was going to happen, what was the hoopla about," he said.

Thackeray also came down on chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. "Chavan has not done anything concrete in these last one and a half years, that is why his image is clean. But of what use is this clean image," he asked.

The bickering in the Congress-NCP alliance is detrimental to the state and it is upto the people to dislodge the government, he said.