Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule on Friday, 14 August launched a sharp attack on the ruling dispensation in Maharashtra, alleging that an 'invisible force' had acted unconstitutionally to engineer the split of both Shiv Sena and the NCP, stripping their founders of their parties. Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Sule questioned the legitimacy of the factions that now hold the party names and symbols.

Sule's Case Against the Election Commission

Sule trained her sharpest criticism on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of weaponising state machinery and undermining democratic principles. She argued that under the NCP's own constitution, party ownership is determined by founding members — not by a count of elected MPs or MLAs.

'Sharad Pawar is the founder member of the NCP, and every document supports our stance. Yet, the Election Commission wrongfully stripped the party away from him. An invisible force sinned, destroying two constitutional parties,' she said.

She drew a pointed analogy to illustrate her argument: 'Can Sri Lanka suddenly stand up and claim, India is my country? No, because the country operates under a constitution. Similarly, the Shiv Sena belongs solely to Uddhav Thackeray because its founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, entrusted its leadership to him during his lifetime. If anyone had a differing opinion, they should have carved out their own path on their own merit, just as Raj Thackeray did.'

Supreme Court Battle and Endless Adjournments

Sule expressed frustration over the pace of legal proceedings at the Supreme Court, where disputes over party names and symbols have seen repeated adjournments without substantive hearings. She pledged to continue the legal and political fight to protect the Constitution and party workers.

The party splits — which saw the Eknath Shinde-led faction retain the Shiv Sena name and the Ajit Pawar-led group claim the NCP — remain among the most contested political developments in Maharashtra in recent years. Critics, including Sule, have consistently argued that the ECI's rulings favoured those with legislative numbers over those with organisational and constitutional legitimacy.

Attack on Industries Minister Over Chakan Industrial Belt

Turning to Maharashtra's economic performance, Sule criticised Industries Minister Uday Samant over his handling of the Chakan industrial area in Pune district. She noted that Sharad Pawar had established the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) hub in Chakan during his tenure as Chief Minister, attracting thousands of investors to the region.

Sule alleged that under the current 'double-engine' government, businesses are now exiting Maharashtra. She specifically called out Samant for holding virtual or telephonic meetings on Sundays and advertising them as outreach, rather than visiting a site located barely two and a half hours from Mumbai.

'When a minister's electoral seat is at risk in Nashik, chartered flights are made available immediately. But when the livelihoods of thousands of young people in Chakan are at risk, the minister cannot find time to visit in person. Industrial management cannot be run over phone calls,' Sule said.

Infrastructure Concerns and Competition from Other States

Rejecting the government's claim that only shell companies are shutting down, Sule asked: 'If industries aren't leaving, are the massive potholes visible on Chakan's roads daily fake too?' She argued that true leadership requires taking responsibility and solving problems, not deflecting questions.

She also warned that neighbouring states — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — are actively courting investors with competitive incentives, putting Maharashtra's industrial edge at risk. With the Supreme Court battle continuing and Maharashtra's industrial climate under scrutiny, the political pressure on the ruling alliance is unlikely to ease soon.