Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly elections, a cold war between uncle and nephew has broke out, with Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar hitting back at Sharad Pawar on Wednesday saying it was not right on the part of NCP (SP) supremo to do so as he had got emotional while remembering his mother.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that he has always considered Sharad Pawar a god but after such an act by such a veteran, seasoned and experienced leader, it was in a bad taste. “Many people did not like it after he mimicked me. It would have been alright if it had been done by Yogendra Pawar, who is the NCP(SP) nominee against Uncle Ajit Pawar in Baramati, or others,” he said.

“I got a bit emotional after taking my mother’s name. I broke into tears and it was a natural one. Sometimes it happens. I did not take out my handkerchief but he did that,” Ajit Pawar added.

“For so long I thought that only Raj Thackeray mimics but yesterday ‘Saheb’ (Sharad Pawar) mimicked me,” the Deputy CM said. He reiterated that his estranged uncle should not have done it saying “I really feel very bad”.

Sharad Pawar on Tuesday mimicked Ajit Pawar at a rally in Pune district’s Baramati Assembly constituency.

Earlier on Monday, after filing his nomination from Baramati, Ajit Pawar became emotional while addressing a rally. He claimed that Sharad Pawar had caused a rift in the family and ran Yugendra Pawar against him.

“I previously admitted to making a mistake, but it seems like others are now making errors too. My family and I had agreed to file the form in Baramati first, but that didn’t happen. Despite the challenges, we managed to improve the situation. My mother has been very supportive, and she even advised that they should not nominate anyone against Ajit Pawar. However, I was told that Saheb (Sharad Pawar) instructed someone to file a nomination against me. Saheb created the split within the family. I just want to say that politics should not be brought to such a low level because it took generations to be united and it doesn’t take a single moment to break the family,” Ajit Pawar said.

In a viral video, Sharad Pawar could be seen mimicking Ajit Pawar by taking off his glasses and wiping his face with a handkerchief. This action elicited a massive cheer from the crowd gathered at the rally.

He added, “Be it Ajit Pawar or Yugendra Pawar, everyone has the right to contest elections in a democracy. It should be contested peacefully and try to put forward your policies before the public.” The former Union Minister also highlighted the importance of a peaceful election process and clear communication of policies.

The Uttar Pradesh government is all set for a historic Guinness World Record attempt by lighting nearly 28 lakh diyas at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Deepotsav on Wednesday. Additionally, more than 1100 people are set to perform the largest aarti together on Saryu Ghat. 

Uttar Pradesh minister Jaiveer Singh said that this is the first Deepotsav after the Pran Pratistha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and every effort has been made to give grandeur and divinity to the programme. He added that many things will be made to create new records this year. 

Jaiveer Singh also said that CM Yogi Aditynath will attend the event. He mentioned that artists are coming from many countries. He hailed that the special thing this year will be that they have managed to light 28 lakh diyas by breaking all previous records. Besides, they will also perform Aarti with 1100 diyas at the Sarayug Ghat with 1100 Vedacharyas, he continued.

More than 30,000 volunteers are mobilised to support the lighting of 28 lakh diyas across 55 ghats, with prominent areas such as New Ghat, Old Ghat, and Bhajan Sandhya being primary locations for the festivities. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and other key officials are expected to attend, highlighting the event’s significance.

Furthermore, a team from Guinness World Records is overseeing the Deepotsav festivities, aiming to set two records: a 1,100-person Saryu Aarti and the lighting of 28 lakh diyas. Earlier on Tuesday, a 30-member team led by Guinness World Records consultant Nischal Barot began counting the diyas across the 55 ghats of the Saryu using drones.

Reportedly, an elaborate Shobha Yatra is also planned with 18 tableaus and artists from six countries and 16 Indian states participating, amplifying the event’s cultural diversity. In order to ensure safety, nearly 10,000 security personnel, including undercover officers, have been deployed, and 17 key routes leading to Ram Ki Paidi are restricted to pass holders only. Additionally, LED screens have been installed for live viewing, accommodating the crowds with arrangements for 5,000-6,000 people, while additional viewing points across the city ensure widespread access.

Also, special low-soot lamps are being used to raise environmental awareness, and the Animal Husbandry Department has committed to lighting 1,50,000 Gau Deep for the occasion. Security measures are tight, with the ATS, STF, and CRPF commandos deployed. In an attempt to avoid pollution, wax lamps are used outside the main temple building,  and decoration efforts are carefully overseen to prevent any damage to temple structures.

The Congress on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, saying India is in its most precarious and difficult economic situation in many years, adding wage stagnation, inflation and inequality are undermining consumption growth in the country.

Congress General Secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh warned that failure to address existing chokepoints could severely hinder growth in the coming years.

He noted that over the past three decades, India’s economic narrative has centered on consumption, with millions of families successfully moving out of poverty and into the middle class, now capable of purchasing goods and assets. He asserted this signified a robust and rapidly expanding economy benefiting a broad swath of society.

However, Ramesh pointed out that this consumption trend has reversed in the last decade, posing a significant challenge for the Indian economy. Voices from India Inc. echo his concerns, with one prominent CEO remarking that the middle class is shrinking.

Ramesh identified several key factors contributing to this downturn: stagnant wages, soaring inflation, and rising inequality.

He explained that evidence from various data sources, including the recently published Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-2023, demonstrates that workers today have less purchasing power than they did a decade ago.

The Congress leader warned that the stagnation in wages might correlate with a decline in labor productivity, leaving families with less disposable income for consumption.

Addressing the issue of high inflation, Ramesh cited Dr. Viral Acharya, former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, highlighting the rise of five major conglomerates, including the Adani Group, which have formed monopolies in 40 sectors such as cement, chemicals, and construction.

He claimed that in 2015, for every Rs 100 spent by consumers, Rs 18 went to industrialists, whereas today, that figure has risen to Rs 36 in profits for the same owners.

Ramesh attributed the recent price hikes to the government’s cronyism and favoritism towards these conglomerates, asserting that the continuous rise in goods and services costs has diminished the common man’s capacity for consumption amidst stagnating wages.

He addressed the issue of inequality, stating that India’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has been markedly uneven and K-shaped, with rural areas and the impoverished being disproportionately affected.

He pointed out that two-wheeler sales in rural regions, a key indicator of economic health, remain below 2018 levels.