Maharashtra: NCP-SP Declares No Intent to Join Ajit Pawar's Faction or MahaYuti

Mumbai, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Nationalist Congress Party-SP, headed by Sharad Pawar, has decisively quelled all conjectures about joining the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar or the MahaYuti. They stated that there has been no offer from the Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister's group nor any internal discussions regarding the matter.

Additionally, Sunil Tatkare, the state NCP chief, refuted media claims suggesting they had approached seven out of eight MPs from NCP-SP with a proposition to join the party.

The concerned MPs also asserted that they had not been contacted by Tatkare regarding any proposal to associate with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

During an interactive gathering with youth, women, and student factions in Mumbai, Sharad Pawar indicated that the NCP-SP would continue its role in opposition, emphasizing that the party has no intentions of merging with Ajit Pawar's faction or the MahaYuti government.

He urged party members not to feel disheartened by the party's performance in the recent Assembly elections but to prepare for the imminent civil and local body elections.

Rohit Pawar, a legislator and grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, remarked, "There are rumors about Sunil Tatkare reaching out to our party MPs. I firmly believe that our MPs will adhere to the party line, despite attempts from outside forces."

Furthermore, he pointed out that "Sunil Tatkare’s party is under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, whose position will be regarded as the party's policy."

NCP-SP MPs Nilesh Lanke and Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil, representing Ahmednagar and Madha constituencies respectively, confirmed that they had not been approached by Sunil Tatkare regarding joining Ajit Pawar's faction, stating their commitment to Sharad Pawar's leadership and the party's resurgence.

MP Wardha Amar Kale also stated he had not been contacted by Tatkare.

However, he mentioned that Sonia Duhan, an office bearer from the Congress party, had reached out to them, urging them to align with the Ajit Pawar group. She suggested that if they wished to pursue development initiatives, joining the NDA was essential. She claimed to have contacted not only Kale but also Nilesh Lanka, Bhaskar Bhagre, Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil, and Bajrang Sonawane.

He added that complaints had been lodged with Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule regarding this outreach.

Senior party legislator Shashikant Shinde, who experienced defeats in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections as an NCP-SP candidate from Satara district, also asserted that the party would remain in opposition, debunking rumors of a merger with the Ajit Pawar faction or joining the MahaYuti.

“Our president Sharad Pawar is unequivocal that NCP-SP will preserve its unique identity and diligently work towards its revival leading up to local and civic body elections,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar is scheduled to meet with party office bearers from across the state, sitting MPs, and legislators on Thursday to strategize for the forthcoming local and civic body elections and to discuss a roadmap for the party's revival.