Speculation Mounts Over NCP Faction Reunification in Maharashtra, but Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule Remain Non-Committal.
Maharashtra Politics: Speculation is rife regarding a potential reunification of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra – Sharad Pawar's and Ajit Pawar's. However, both sides have currently denied any such proposal. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar justified his decisions, stating that such choices are made by the party leadership.
Separate Foundation Day Events
On the NCP's 26th Foundation Day in Maharashtra, both factions, NCP (Sharad Pawar) and NCP (Ajit Pawar), held separate events in Pune. This clearly indicated the absence of any immediate reconciliation between the two groups. While the Ajit Pawar faction defended its joining of the NDA, Sharad Pawar faction's MP Supriya Sule refrained from commenting on any potential unification.
NDA Joining Was a Collective Decision: Sunil Tatkare
Sunil Tatkare, the state president of NCP, stated that joining the NDA, led by BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), was not an individual decision but a collective one. He explained that the party had considered this option multiple times since 2014, but the final decision was made in 2023.
Tatkare asserted that the party's ideology—including the policies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Phule, Ambedkar, and Shahu Maharaj—remained unchanged. He clarified that the party's political journey under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah would continue.
'We Are Not Saints': Ajit Pawar
On the Foundation Day, Ajit Pawar clarified that merely opposing from the opposition benches is not a solution. He said, "We are not saints who are content with just slogans. Our aim is to resolve people's issues by being in power." He also maintained that his party hadn't compromised its ideology and that their move was entirely based on practical necessities.
Ajit Pawar's Response on the Possibility of Unification
When asked about the possibility of the two NCP factions reuniting, Ajit Pawar, avoiding a direct answer, said that such decisions are taken by the party leadership, not by workers or junior leaders. He acknowledged that workers might have differing opinions, but the final decision rests with the top leadership.
Supriya Sule Defers Response
Sharad Pawar faction's MP Supriya Sule also declined to comment on the potential reunification of the factions. She stated that she has been constantly occupied with party and foreign affairs for the past few days and hasn't found time to address the issue. Her recent leadership of an all-party delegation following 'Operation Sindur' further highlights her busy schedule.
Sharad Pawar's Reaction
Sharad Pawar stated that some individuals departed towards other ideologies, leading to the split. He mentioned that this issue isn't currently up for discussion, but emphasized that leaders who remained loyal to the party did so because of its ideology.
