MP claims she has no idea what Sharad Pawar said on his party and that of his nephew Ajit coming together; says will comment after learning more
Baramati MP Supriya Sule did not confirm or deny the possibility of a National Congress Party merger. File pic
Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule fuelled further speculation on the reports of a possible reunion of the two NCPs. Speaking with the media on Friday, a member of parliament from Baramati constituency, Sule claimed that she is not aware of what statement her father and NCP supremo Pawar made on the reunion of two NCP factions.
Recently, Pawar, in an interview with a newspaper, mentioned that a section of his party was in favour of reuniting with the NCP led by Ajit Pawar. The veteran Maratha leader further stated that since he is not active, it is his daughter Supriya who will have to take a call on the issue.
NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar broke away from the Congress in 1999 to form his own party. FilePic/Kirti Surve Parade
Asked about her views, Sule neither confirmed nor denied the reuniting possibility. “I have not read or heard what Pawar-saheb has said,” she quipped. However, when repeatedly asked about her view on the same, Sule said, “Once, Pawar-saheb has spoken, how can I comment on it?”
In 1999, Pawar Senior, after breaking away from the Congress, formed his own NCP. The party split in 2023, after Pawar’s nephew raised a red flag against his uncle. Pawar Jr. broke away with a majority of MLAs to join the BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) camp. In fact, Ajit took the battle to the Election Commission of India and the court to secure the party’s name and symbol for his faction.
However, within two years of the split, Pawar Sr. made a statement that fuelled speculation of a possible merger of the two NCP factions. One faction is headed by Pawar Sr., and the other is led by nephew Ajit, currently serving as deputy chief minister under the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government.
Dy CM Ajit Pawar formed his own faction of the NCP in 2023. File Pic/Atul Kamble
Speaking further on the issue, Sule struck a cautious tone and claimed that she would have to first find out what were the exact statements made by Pawar Sr., and more importantly, in what context they were made. “I will have to go through it before speaking on the same,” estranged cousin of Ajit Pawar, Sule added.
Asked about the speculations, NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar stated that this could be the view of some party members, “if anyone has expressed such views”. Asked about his view on a reunion of the two factions, Rohit stated that it is completely up to Pawar-saheb on whether to call a meeting or not. “As and when Pawar-saheb calls a meeting, I will put my views firmly before the party leaders, and this is not the forum to table any opinion on such things,” Rohit said.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
