BJP’s Ashok Chavan slams NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar in Nanded, young politician retaliates & labels Chavan ‘Adarsh’ leader

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A felicitation ceremony for Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Ram Shinde in Nanded on Sunday turned into a political slugfest with former CM and BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Chavan taking a dig at NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar over the constituency he represented, prompting the latter to shoot back, labelling Chavan an "Adarsh" leader.
It all started with Chavan recalling one of his visits to the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency, which Pawar retained for the second time in a row, following the defeat of Shinde in last year's state assembly election. "During my visit to Karjat-Jamkhed, I was in a different party then. But even at that time, people whispered in my ears saying, ‘Sir, the real man here is Ram Shinde'," Chavan said, while targeting Pawar.
Reacting to Chavan's jibe, Pawar took to social media and termed Chavan an ‘Adarsh' leader, taunting him over the Adarsh housing scam, where he was named as an accused, prompting him to resign from the post of the chief minister.
Chavan also praised Shinde for his long political journey — from gram panchayat member to MLA, minister and now council chairman — describing it as an inspirational ascent.
Pawar took to social media platform X and Sunday and posted, "Ashok Chavan Saheb, you are a senior and ‘Adarsh' (ideal) leader. I have always respected you. But the entire state knows why you joined BJP and what is the position of a great leader like you today. There's no need for anyone to whisper that. The question remains whether it is true or false, Karjat-Jamkhed has given the answer to this question twice. The important thing is that I didn't have to surrender to anyone to get into the legislative council or Rajya Sabha. Isn't that true? You tell me."
Reacting to this, Chavan on Monday told newsmen that his political experience was equivalent to Pawar's age. Rohit was quick to retort and took a dig at Chavan for switching his loyalty to BJP after remaining in Congress for nearly four decades. Pawar took to social media and posted, "Respected Ashok Chavan Saheb, if there is no loyalty to the ideology, political experience is meaningless. This is the complaint of newbies like us who believe in progressive ideology to senior and experienced leaders like you. For the rest, we have always had, and will always have respect for you. But it makes us, the new guys and activists, sad to see the roles and loyalties of many senior leaders change so quickly."