Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar on Saturday sought to play down the controversy over Shiv Sena minister Tanaji Sawant's remarks against his party, stating that he worked for the people and did not pay attention to criticism.

Sawant, who is also the state health minister, said in Dharashiv recently that he sat next to his NCP peers at the Maharashtra cabinet meetings, but felt "nauseous" after coming out.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar's NCP are partners in the state's ruling Mahayuti coalition. Sawant's remarks exposed the fissures within the ruling alliance with the NCP hitting back saying it was better to quit the coalition than to listen to such statements.

When asked about Sawant's remarks, Ajit Pawar told reporters at the Nagpur airport, "I had decided at the start of the 'Jansanman Yatra' that I don't want to criticise or comment against anyone. It doesn't matter to me if someone speaks against me. I believe in my work and work for the people."

To a query on Mahayuti alliance's seat-sharing talks, Pawar said, "The leaders of all three ruling allies will hold a press conference and inform the media about the seats."

Earlier, Pawar visited the Deekshabhoomi, where Dr B R Ambedkar embraced Buddhism. He also took part in a two-wheeler rally at Katol near Nagpur, where he was scheduled to interact with farmers and women.

The Sharad Pawar-founded NCP split in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar and MLAs, loyal to him, broke away to join the Shinde-led government. Subsequently, the Ajit Pawar faction got the party name and its clock symbol. Since the split, both factions have been targeting each other.

The rumblings within the ruling alliance have become louder after it won only 17 of the 48 seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress, performed better by winning 30 seats.

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