Kaumudi Gurjar

Sharad Pawar

Prime Minister

Baramati

NCP

Lok Sabha

Ajit

Kishor Masal

president

Baramati Taluk

Rashtriya Samaj Party

senior BJP leader

Devendra Fadnavis

Nashik

Rajendra Dhavan

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna

co-operative

Mahayuti party

Kiran Gujar

Krishi Sanshodhan Kendra

In what looks like a 360 degree turnaround,Narendra Modi is scheduled to visiton February 14 on the invitation of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar. Not very long ago, the very same Modi had rallied forth againstduring thepoll campaign, urging locals to end the “chacha-bhatija” rule of Pawar and his nephew, who was then the deputy CM of Maharashtra.So quick an ‘olive branch’ has driven farmers and BJP workers up the wall, with many party workers from Baramati appealing to their supporters to boycott the event even as coalition partners are left fuming. “We are confused. Just three months ago, Modi had called for an end to the ‘chacha –bhatija’ rule and, now, he is coming to Baramati on Pawar’s invitation. We feel betrayed,” saidof thefrom— BJP’s coalition partner in the state. Afrom Baramati told Mirror, “None of us will go to meet Modi.”During his scathing attack on the NCP at the earlier Lok Sabha rally, Modi had also expressed concern about farmers’ water woes. It is ironic then that he is now coming to praise Pawar’s work in the field of agriculture. CM, in a statement on Tuesday at, said that the PM was visiting Baramati to inaugurate the new Krishi Vigyan Kendra building, a project approved by the central government. Fadnavis also claimed that though BJP has political differences with NCP, his party does not believe in political untouchability. “This centre for excellence enjoys grants from the Centre as well as the state, but how far that benefits farmers from Baramati remains to be seen,” said another BJP leader.Mirroring the hurt felt by all the coalition partners,Patil, district president of, said, “For years, we are playing the role of a strong opponent to Pawar. So, the PM’s visit to see Baramati’s so-called development is shocking .” He added, “If Modi is indeed so keen to know about its development, he should visit the entire Baramati taluka, which is struggling for water even today.” A BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, echoed Patil’s sentiments, saying, “It has long been a practice with the Pawar clan to project a 5-km patch, from Malegaon to Vidya Parathisthan, as the development of the entire taluka. At the time of each VIP visit, the roads and street lights are spruced up. But that is just a façade. This sudden camaraderie is sure to affect the impending sugarfactory elections adversely .”The NCP camp, however, looked unaffected even after an outrage byworkers and the unrest in BJP ranks over Modi’s proposed visit. Baramati Taluk NCP presidentsaid, “I can only say that path-breaking research is going on in the field of agriculture at theand the PM is keen to know about the progress. I don’t understand why people are making such a hue and cry .”