Pune: NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Tuesday justified his and colleagues’ decision to rebel against uncle Sharad Pawar to join BJP-led NDA and said that he was not a saint to remain in the opposition and keep raising slogans against govt.Addressing a rally on the occasion of NCP’s foundation day conclave in Balewadi, Pawar exhorted party workers to start preparations for the upcoming civic polls.“Some people raised questions about our decision to join NDA, claiming that NCP was founded on secular ideology. However, the party already made a compromise in 2019 by joining hands with Shiv Sena to form govt. Then why are we being blamed? Sitting in opposition and raising slogans is not enough in politics. We are not saints but politicians, and in order to address public grievances, we joined govt,” he said. The deputy CM said he had not abandoned the secular ideology. “Our party’s base is the ideology of Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Our aim to be in NDA is to ensure development.” Scotching rumours of a possible merger with NCP (SP), he said, “Some party functionaries may have some opinion on the issue, but such decisions are made by the senior leadership.” — Anurag Bende