Pawar criticized Fadnavis for using contemptuous language against opposition parties.

In an article in Marathi newspaper Loksatta’s Sunday edition, Pawar said, “The role of opposition is important in democracy and so it is expected of you to choose your words carefully."

Pawar’s criticism came against Fadnavis allegedly telling reporters on the last day of the state legislature’s winter session that the “opposition should be ashamed."

This is second time in a fortnight that Pawar has criticized Fadnavis. Earlier, he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him not to act on Fadnavis’s suggestion of constituting a special committee under the Prime Minister’s chairmanship for Mumbai’s pending projects at the central level.

Recalling his good relations with Fadnavis’ father, late Gangadharrao, who was a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, Pawar said, “I had good relations with Devendra’s father, I still remember him as a cultured, mature man with a large heart."

Right now Fadnavis should focus his attention on the drought-hit regions of the state and he should refrain from talking about a separate statehood for Vidarbha, Pawar added.

“Being the chief minister, he is responsible for the welfare of the entire state," Pawar said. “The decision on separate statehood has to be left to the people. Goa was given a separate statehood when there was a consensus. There has been no such consensus for Vidarbha," he said.

Maharashtra BJP spokesman Keshav Upadhyay said, “Had Pawar given the same advice of showing restrain in public life and maturity to his nephew and former deputy chief minister of the state Ajit Pawar who rubbed salt on farmer’s wounds by his infamous urination remarks, then NCP perhaps would not have performed so badly in the elections."

In April last year while addressing gathering of party workers in Indapur Ajit Pawar had said, “Should we urinate in dam if there is no water in dams?"

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