THIS IS a make-or-break election for Ajit Pawar who, after the embarrassment of the Lok Sabha polls where his NCP faction finished with one seat, is now leading it into its first Assembly elections. The shadow of uncle Sharad Pawar, the veteran of many a battle and now on the opposite side, continues to hang over him. In an interview with The Indian Express, Ajit Pawar rejects the possibility of patching up with Sharad Pawar after the polls and says the Mahayuti will decide on power sharing after the results are out. Excerpts:

* It is the first Assembly election where you and your uncle are in opposite camps. How do you view this?

It is like any other election of my political life. When we decided to stand against him, we had prepared our minds and now we are going ahead with full force.

* The Mahayuti finished behind the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Lok Sabha polls. Has the situation changed since then?

Yes, 100%. The fake narrative of the Lok Sabha polls is not working despite the MVA’s attempts. We rectified a few (things), like the ban on onion exports. We suffered a lot because of this in North Maharashtra. The ban has been lifted now and farmers are getting a fair price. The ‘400 paar’ slogan (given by the BJP) was used to make allegations of change in the Constitution and formation of a Hindu Rashtra (by the MVA).

I cannot comment on the (BJP-led NDA’s) defeat in (Lok Sabha polls in) Uttar Pradesh, but in Maharashtra, the backward class believed the narrative. Also, the agitation against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) led people to believe that they will be thrown out of the country. The Opposition made people believe that we would do this if we got 400 seats. After the results, these fears have proved baseless and no longer matter.

* But your ally BJP is still making contentious claims of ‘vote jihad’ and raising slogans such as ‘Batenge toh katenge’.

We have clarified on this. The North (India) may accept this, not us. We have people with different backgrounds in our state. I am of the opinion that such things should not be said. We belong to the ideology of Shiv (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj), Shahu (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj), Phule (Mahatma Phule) and Ambedkar (Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar). And only this ideology can take Maharashtra forward.

* Senior BJP leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis are the ones who are saying this. What would you tell them?

PM Modi never said this. Don’t twist his words. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is the motto of the Central government. ‘Ek hai toh safe hai’ slogan given by him is exactly on this line. He is asking everyone to remain united. Your interpretation is different, ours is different.

* Why did your party get the least number of constituencies in the Mahayuti seat-sharing?

We have decided not to discuss the issue now. We are in an alliance and a decision has been taken by leaders of all the three parties. I do not want to create any controversy.

* Will the consequent rebellions lead to a large number of Independents getting elected?

Last time such a thing happened was in 1995. But then, there was internal rebellion in the Congress. This time, we decided seats as per parties and then the candidates were even exchanged wherever necessary.

* Don’t you think contesting less seats dilutes the possibility of you becoming CM?

Don’t drag me into yet another controversy. For your information, there are people who have become prime ministers or chief ministers with the strength of 40 legislators behind them. But I am not going to comment on anything. People like Nawab Malik (NCP leader) have said I will be a key player, but I do not want to comment on it. We three (parties) will sit together after the results and the CM will be finalised.

* Will you rejoin Sharad Pawar after the results?

There is absolutely no possibility of it.

* How confident are you about winning from Baramati?

Our family is divided in this (fight). As per my survey, the voters of Baramati chose Pawar saheb (Sharad Pawar) for the Lok Sabha by electing Supriya (Sule). For the Assembly, (they know) I am always among the voters and work for them. They see, know and acknowledge my work. I have full confidence that I will win Baramati and, as the Mahayuti, we will win more than 175 seats across Maharashtra.

* While the Mahayuti too has announced sops like Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, you are criticising the MVA’s five ‘guarantees’. Is that fair?

The MVA’s guarantees are nothing but bad economics. The schemes that I announced (cost) Rs 75,000 crore. The Budget size is Rs 6.5 lakh crore, of which around Rs 3.5 lakh crore goes into salaries, pension and interests. Both these numbers increase annually. We can save 10% of the Budget by increasing resources and blocking leakages. I spoke to retired officials, and I have been told that the MVA’s guarantees alone would need Rs 3 lakh crore… If you are going to spend that much amount, the entire development and infra works in the state would come to a standstill.

When the MVA realised the popularity of the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, they decided to make such announcements, knowing fully well that they will not be coming to power. The Ladki Bahin scheme is going to be the game-changer in this election.

* Maratha activists like Manoj Jarange-Patil have given a call to defeat certain candidates of the Mahayuti. How do you see it?

That is his democratic right. Some leaders too are giving calls to defeat others. Ultimately, people will decide and vote.

* Is OBC consolidation happening on the other side, in the Mahayuti’s favour?

* How would you calm farmers agitated over the falling prices of soyabean and cotton?

We helped farmers by announcing a Rs 5,000 subsidy per hectare (up to two hectares). There are two sides to the coin. If we increase soyabean prices, the oil (from it) will get costlier. If that happens, you will cry about inflation… We have spoken to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has assured us that a way would be found after the lifting of the code of conduct.