Devendra Fadnavis Declines Sharad Pawar's Weekend Lunch Invite, Cites Busy Schedule

Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. (PTI file photo)

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday declined the lunch invitation from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar for Saturday at the latter’s Baramati residence, citing his busy schedule as the reason for his inability to attend.

In a letter to the NCP supremo, Maharashtra deputy CM stated that the entire day would be ‘very busy’ as two important programs are being organised back-to-back.

“I received the letter written by you, as well as an invitation for dinner from you. As you are aware that after the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Namo Maharojgar Melava is being organized in Baramati. This big programme will be held in Baramati, after that, the bhoomi pujan of the memorial of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj will be held in Badhu Budruk and Tuljapur and immediately after that, the bhoomi pujan of the memorial of revolutionary Lahuji Vastad Salve is scheduled. The whole day is going to be very busy as two important programmes are being organized one after the other. Therefore, I will not be able to accept your urgent invitation this time. Thank you once again,” Fadnavis wrote in his letter.

Apart from Fadnavis, Sharad Pawar invited Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his nephew Ajit Pawar for lunch on March 2. The official invitation was dispatched through his office in the form of a letter on Thursday.

“After taking oath as CM of the state, the CM is coming to Baramati for the first time and I am very glad about his visit to attend the Namo Maharojgar Event in Baramati. Therefore I would like to extend the invitation for the meal at my residence after the event along with his other Cabinet colleagues,” Sharad Pawar stated in his letter.

Sharad’s invitation comes after the NCP, which he founded, lost its name and symbol last month to nephew Ajit Pawar, who led a vertical split in the party last year to join the BJP-led NDA government.