NCP's Core Committee Meeting: Unity and Leadership Under Sunetra Pawar
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mumbai, March 31 (NationPress) - The core committee of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) convened for an extensive meeting on Monday, urging party president and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar to ensure inclusive leadership before drafting critical communications regarding party policies or making significant decisions about the party's direction.
The committee reaffirmed its confidence in her leadership and resolved to focus on consolidation.
This meeting was prompted by Sunetra Pawar’s recent correspondence with the Election Commission of India, requesting it to disregard any letters submitted between January 28 (the date of Ajit Pawar's plane crash) and her official appointment on February 26. She challenged the communication made to the Election Commission by senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare on February 16.
In light of this context, the committee, which was presided over by Sunetra Pawar, gathered to strategize on navigating the current situation and demonstrating unity. Key attendees included Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Food and Civil Supply Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, senior legislator Dilip Walse Patil, legislator Dhananjay Munde, and new Rajya Sabha member Parth Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar.
A source familiar with the discussions indicated that Patel and Tatkare asserted that the decisions regarding the national convention, Sunetra Pawar's appointment on February 26, and their election as working president and state party chief, respectively, adhered to the party's Constitution.
They expressed dissatisfaction with the rush to send a letter to the Election Commission, urging it to invalidate decisions made between January 28 and February 26.
In the February 16 letter, party chief spokesman Brijmohan Srivastav submitted the amended Constitution to the Election Commission, detailing the roles and powers of the president and the working president. Patel and Tatkare, along with other party leaders, advised Sunetra Pawar to have consulted them prior to sending her communication.
They stressed that the authority of the president had not been compromised in the process and recommended that the most reasonable course of action would be to retract her letter to prevent further legal issues.
NCP Chief Spokesman Brijmohan Srivastav stated that the party leadership unanimously agreed on the importance of collaborative efforts to advance Ajit Pawar's legacy while maintaining internal harmony.
The meeting ended with a collective agreement that under Sunetra Pawar's leadership, the party would strive for growth and unity. She assured the leaders that she would include them in shaping the party's future, according to a source.
Additionally, Minister Bhujbal proposed that the party should reach out to Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), requesting them not to field candidates, but to support Sunetra Pawar's unopposed election during the upcoming Baramati assembly by-election set for April 23.
(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)