The warning came amid a public exchange with Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane, who called for dialogue and accused Pawar of using students’ grievances for political purposes.
Rane said the dispute concerned the future of lakhs of candidates and urged Pawar to work with the government towards a solution. He also suggested that Pawar might one day serve alongside him in the cabinet.
Pawar dismissed the remark as a diversion and said Rane should speak to the students rather than discuss a ministerial position for him. He urged the minister to press the government for Bhimanwar’s resignation and action on alleged corruption within the commission.
While agreeing that students’ concerns should remain above party politics, Pawar accused some ruling-party legislators of politicising the agitation.
On Sunday, protest supporter Abhijeet Dipke also called for a larger mobilisation, urging aspirants from Vidarbha and other regions to join the demonstration. He advocated bringing Pune to a standstill to press the students’ demands.
Meanwhile, differences over demands have divided the agitation into three groups, complicating efforts to present a united position.
Several opposition leaders have met the protesters, including Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar has also taken note of the agitation.
With IANS inputs
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