Mumbai: Relations between the 2 factions of the Nationalist Congress Occasion (NCP) have soured as soon as once more, with reviews suggesting that the Ajit Pawar-led faction tried to poach Members of Parliament from the Sharad Pawar-led camp.
Ajit Pawar and uncle Sharad Pawar. (HT PHOTO)
In keeping with a senior occasion chief, state NCP president Sunil Tatkare approached a number of of the eight MPs aligned with the Sharad Pawar faction through the latest winter session of Parliament. Tatkare allegedly provided them ministerial positions and appointments to key authorities undertakings in trade for his or her allegiance.
“He promised these MPs a brighter political future if they left the father-daughter duo of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule and joined the Ajit-led faction,” stated the chief. The MPs, in flip, relayed this to Pawar and Sule, prompting Sule to straight elevate the difficulty with Praful Patel, the occasion’s nationwide working president.
The incident occurred amid hypothesis that the 2 NCP factions may reunite. In latest weeks, there had been indicators of improved relations between uncle Sharad Pawar and nephew Ajit Pawar. Ajit visited Sharad on December 12 to want him on his birthday. Two weeks later, after a go to to the Lord Vithal Temple in Pandharpur, Ajit’s mom, Ashatai Pawar, remarked that she prayed for a reconciliation between the 2.
Nevertheless, the senior chief dismissed rumours of a merger. “The speculation over the unification of the two factions was baseless. While some leaders on both sides believe there should be no acrimony, the recent developments have only widened the rift,” the chief stated.
Supriya Sule declined to touch upon the matter.
Tatkare denied the allegations, calling them false. “The claims against me are baseless. I did not make such an offer. I meet MPs from various parties as part of my responsibilities,” he stated. “Several MPs have shared their thoughts with me, but I won’t disclose anything further at this stage.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut, an ally of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, accused Tatkare of searching for a union ministerial place. “The BJP told NCP leaders they would be given a cabinet berth in the union government if they could secure the support of 6-7 MPs from Sharad Pawar’s faction. That’s why Tatkare has been trying to poach MPs,” Raut alleged.
Within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP gained eight seats, whereas the Ajit Pawar faction managed only one, with Tatkare retaining his Raigad constituency. The Ajit faction had hoped for a cupboard berth within the union authorities however was reportedly provided solely a junior ministerial place on account of its restricted parliamentary presence.
The dynamics shifted throughout final 12 months’s state meeting elections in November, the place Ajit Pawar’s faction emerged stronger, successful 41 seats in comparison with Sharad Pawar’s 10. The ruling Mahayuti coalition, led by the BJP, secured a decisive victory with 235 seats.
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