PUNE: A month is a lifetime in politics. A little over a month ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thundered from Sharad Pawar's bastion Baramati asking people to break free from the 'chacha-bhatija' grip and end their 'ghulami (slavery)' to the Pawars. A month later on Friday, Sharad Pawar picked up the broom and so did nephew Ajit Pawar to clean Baramati's streets. Modi welcomed their participation in the ' Swacch Bharat Mission ' with a tweet appreciating the senior Pawar for his effort and support.

Apart from Ajit Pawar and his wife Sunetra, the NCP president was accompanied by his daughter and MP Supriya Sule as well as party general secretary D P Tripathi. The family photo-op with brooms was noticed. Modi tweeted: "Appreciable effort by Sharad Pawar ji. His support to Swachh Bharat Mission will help create a Clean India."

Pawar also exhorted people to sustain the cleanliness initiative. "Remember, we have to sustain this campaign in Baramati. Every month we all should come together on the first Monday to clean Baramati. We also need to ensure at an individual level that our town remains clean. If we fail to do so, the media is going to criticize us," said Pawar. Two dengue deaths recently in Baramati are adding to the legitimacy of the cleanliness drive here.

Friday's development raised many eyebrows in political circles that have been abuzz with talk of Pawar inching closer to the BJP and might join the government at the Centre and in Maharashtra, where he has already announced unconditional support to the Devendra Fadnavis government. He had however not commented on whether he would be joining NDA when he was asked about it in Pune recently.

While NCP leaders said Pawar's participation in the cleanliness drive had no political motive, Shiv Sena criticized him. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena leader Divakar Rawate described Pawar's cleanliness initiative in Baramati as a "mock drive". "He and his family members cleaned clean roads. I think it is just a mock exercise. Why is he doing this? Is it a step towards moving more close to BJP?"

Earlier, Pawar had announced his support to Narendra Modi's scheme of elected representatives adopting a village. Pawar has adopted Enqure village in Satara district. NCP's Rajya Sabha MP Majid Memon adopted Thikekarwadi village in Shirur and D P Tripathi - Murti village in Baramati.

