Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) President Sharad Pawar recently contacted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by phone to express his deep dissatisfaction. The conversation centered on controversial remarks allegedly made by BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar regarding the parents of senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil.
Mr. Pawar conveyed to the Chief Minister that such comments are deeply uncharacteristic of Maharashtra’s rich cultural values. He emphasized that the state has always championed progressive thought, and Padalkar’s statements do not align with this spirit.
The contentious remarks were reportedly made by Mr. Padalkar during a public rally held in Jat, his assembly constituency located in the Sangli district.
Jayant Patil, a prominent figure who previously served as the state NCP (SP) chief and held various ministerial positions for many years, is the son of the revered late Rajaram Patil, a Congress veteran and a foundational leader in western Maharashtra’s cooperation sector.
Sources within the NCP indicated that Mr. Pawar initiated the call to CM Fadnavis in the morning, while he was on a visit to Kolhapur.
“These kinds of comments fundamentally clash with Maharashtra’s culture. Our state has consistently upheld progressive ideals, and therefore, such statements are entirely unacceptable,” Pawar reportedly told Fadnavis, urging him to thoroughly investigate the matter and take necessary steps.