Sule Dismisses Family Rift Speculations
Mumbai: Following talks that both NCP factions would come together, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Monday dismissed speculations of a rift within her family. Asserting that there have never been any issues within the Pawar family, she said all family members are there to serve the people.
Şule said, “There has never been a problem in our family. We are all here to serve the public.”
His remarks came as the NCP (SP) joined hands with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal elections. The move led to speculation about a possible reunion of the NCP and NCP-SP. Sule and NCP chief Ajit Pawar also released the joint manifesto for the Pune local body elections on Sunday. This is the first time that Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule have shared the stage since NCP’s split in 2023.
When asked if a merger between the two groups was possible, Sule emphasized that the alliance between the NCP and NCP(SP) was formed for the local body elections to be held in Pune. However, he said that no decision has yet been made on a permanent merger between the two parties.
Our alliance was formed for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. “We will see this in the future,” he added.
Ajit Pawar also refrained from commenting directly on the meeting of both parties. “We are a family. In every family, people come together in happiness and sadness. If family members choose to be together, there is nothing wrong with that.”
When asked if there was a chance of the NCP’s two factions coming together, Pawar said winning the ongoing elections remains the immediate priority. “Our top priority right now is to win the elections. We are doing everything possible to achieve a positive outcome and that is our focus right now,” he said.
However, Ajit Pawar maintained that the decision to join hands with Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction for the civic body polls was taken after feedback from party workers and leaders who felt that a united fight would prevent vote split and improve election prospects.
