'BJP's dirty tricks department on overdrive': Congress on NCP split in Maharashtra

Hours after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split after Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar took oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, the Congress on Sunday made a series jibes at the BJP, saying its "washing machine" has resumed operations, and its "dirty tricks department" was on an overdrive in the state.

Congress General Secretary, in charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh said: "Clearly the BJP's washing machine has resumed its operations. A number of new entrants into the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra today had been facing serious corruption charges with ED, CBI and Income Tax authorities after them. Now they have all got a clean chit."

"The Congress will intensify its efforts to free Maharashtra from the clutches of the BJP," he added.

Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said: "The BJP’s dirty tricks department is working on overdrive in Maharashtra. This is not a legitimately elected government, but an ED-facilitated power grab. The Maharashtra government is a product of corruption and sin. The people have very well identified the traitors, corrupt and compromised leaders of Maharashtra and each of them will be taught the lessons of their lifetime in the next elections."

"On June 29, PM Modi had spoken about corruption. It appears he switched on the washing machine and these leaders are now squeaky clean after this oath taking ceremony," he said.

He also said that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to NCP President Sharad Pawar and extended support to him.

The Congress leaders' remarks came after Sharad Pawar maintaining his cool ‘thanked’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ‘blamed’ the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Addressing media persons, Pawar, 83, said that just recently, Modi had hurled allegations of corruption against the Congress-NCP. “Today, his party has joined hands and sworn-in (as Ministers) some people from the same (NCP) party against whom Modi had pointed fingers.

This means that Modi’s allegations were baseless and we are now ‘absolved’ of all the charges. I am thankful to him for this… I am happy for those facing enquiries who have taken oath today,” he said.

The NCP supremo said that some of his party leaders were uneasy about the investigations by various probe agencies like ED, and after the PM’s accusations, they got very uneasy, prompting them to take the move on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar after taking oath, also staked claim over the NCP, which entered its Silver Jubilee year last month, and its symbol ‘clock’.

Addressing a crowded media conference, Ajit Pawar, 64, who took oath as Deputy CM for the 5th time, said that the entire NCP is with him and he had blessings of everyone in the party.