The reluctance of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) to aggressively take on the NCP over corruption allegations in a Pune land deal involving the veteran leader’s grandnephew Parth Pawar has created a sense of unease among its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partner Congress, with many of the view that the NCP (SP) is throwing away an opportunity to demand the resignation of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Parth’s father, and create momentum for the alliance ahead of the local body polls.

“There has always been a systematic plan by the BJP and our allies to weaken the Congress. Now, with Pawar refraining from taking on Ajit, it is out in the open,” former Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said recently, adding that the NCP(SP) should have taken an aggressive stand against Parth and Ajit.

Another senior

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