Sharad Pawar reviews NCP's preparations for Lok Sabha polls in 7 constituencies

Nationalist Congress Party NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday took stock of the partys preparations in seven Lok Sabha constituencies in western and north Maharashtra reported news agency PTINCP working president Supriya Sule state president Jayant Patil and other senior leaders were present at the meeting a party leader told PTIThe partys position in Kolhapur Hatkanangale Raver Baramati Shirur Satara and Madha was discussed at the meeting the party leader told PTIPawar will review the preparations in Dindori Ahmednagar Hingoli Wardha Amravati Beed Bhiwandi and Jalna seats on Thursday he addedMeanwhile Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he has not asked NCP supremo Sharad Pawar about his recent meetings with Gautam Adani asserting that the Maratha strongman was neither the prime minister and nor was he protecting the billionaire businessman reported PTIPawars meetings with Adani amidst demands by several INDIA bloc parties for a Joint Parliamentary Committee JPC probe into allegations levelled by USbased short seller Hindenburg has raised eyebrows in the opposition ranksAsked whether he had questioned Pawar about his meetings with Adani that seemed at odds with the stand taken by many opposition parties Gandhi said No I have not asked this Sharad Pawar is not the prime minister of India Sharad Pawar is not protecting Mr Adani Mr Modi is and that is why I ask Mr Modi this question and not Mr Sharad PawarIf Mr Sharad Pawar was sitting as the prime minister of India and if he was protecting Mr Adani then I would be asking Mr Sharad Pawar that question the former Congress chief said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters herePawar had visited Adanis office and residence in Ahmedabad in September In April this year Adani had visited Pawars Silver Oak residence in south Mumbai This meeting which lasted for almost two hours came within days of Pawar coming out in support of Adani and criticising the narrative being built around the Hindenburg reportHis position was seen at variance with his allies such as the Congress which has been seeking a JPC probe into the allegations of fraud and stock market manipulations against the Adani GroupPawar had at that time stated that he favoured a Supreme Court committee probing allegations against the Adani GroupAdani had also visited Pawars residence in June The relationship between Pawar and Adani goes back nearly two decades In his Marathi autobiography Lok Maze Saangati published in 2015 Pawar heaped praises on Adani who at the time was venturing into the coal sectorWith inputs from PTI