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.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme accusing him of doing politics over the issue of public health in the national capital. 

Arvind Kejriwal’s reaction followed after PM Narendra Modi criticised the Delhi and West Bengal governments for failing to implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme out of political interest. The Prime Minister also said that he was disappointed with the state of free healthcare for the elderly in Delhi and West Bengal and called it a missed opportunity to serve the senior citizens.

Addressing an event at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Ayurveda, PM Modi apologised to all the elderly aged above 70 years in Delhi and West Bengal, and said that due to the state government’s decision, he cannot help them. 

Responding to PM Modi’s allegation, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that speaking wrongly about the issue of public health and indulging in politics on it is not right. Taking to X, Arvind Kejriwal said PM Modi should study the Delhi model of healthcare and replace his government’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme with it across the country for real benefit to the people. He further claimed that he is yet to meet a person who got treatment through the Ayushman Bharat scheme. 

Targeting the Prime Minister, Arvind Kejriwal said that speaking wrongly over public health issues and indulging in politics on it is not right. He further stated that under the Delhi government scheme, each person in the city receives free medical treatment, and the government bears the entire cost whether it’s a Rs 5 pill or treatment worth Rs 1 crore. He also offered to send a list of lakhs of beneficiaries of Delhi government’s health scheme. 

The AAP national convenor also questioned benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, saying the CAG found several irregularities in it.