Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has alleged that “some people” from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were ready to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the events of the past week – the resignation of party chief Sharad Pawar and the subsequent NCP cadre overwhelmed by change show of support – suppressed a possible rebellion.
“Some people (from NCP) were ready to leave the party and the accommodation and food arrangements were arranged by the BJP,” said an editorial published in Shiv Sena’s (UBT) mouthpiece on Monday. face,
The editorial also criticized Sharad Pawar for failing to set a clear succession plan – a reference to the 82-year-old NCP founder’s failure to name a political successor.
Rejecting these claims, NCP spokesperson Mahesh Taapsee said on Monday, ‘We do not agree with whatever has been written in the editorial. We all follow Pawar’s ideology SirSo it is not true that they have not prepared a successor.”
editorial in face Going further, he suggested that the BJP wanted to divide in the NCP ‘as it did in the case of the Shiv Sena’, which led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last June.
“A group within the NCP was of the opinion that (Sharad) Pawar should join hands with the BJP and in return protect allies from raids by ED (Enforcement Directorate), CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), IT (Income Tax). But Pawar refused.
Referring to the 18-member committee of senior NCP leaders that was tasked with taking a decision on Pawar’s resignation, the editorial said the panel had “members who were ready to go over to the BJP’s side, but Due to pressure from the workers and strong sentiments, the committee had to reject Pawar’s resignation and he had to accept everything.
This is not the first time such claims have been made in an editorial published in face,
another on thursday editorial It indicated that some NCP leaders were in touch with the BJP. Shiv Sena’s (UBT) ally NCP refuted its spokesperson Taapsee’s allegation, saying, “All in NCP are united and will field candidates against BJP to ensure that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) wins maximum seats (2024)”. assembly elections.”
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Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule
Last week, Sharad Pawar surprised many, including some in his own party, by announcing his resignation as NCP chief from the dais during the launch of his updated biography.
While workers and party leaders opposed his decision, nephew and Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar was the only NCP leader to support Sharad Pawar’s move.
Although Sharad Pawar said in a press conference on Friday that Ajit Pawar had realized his decision, so he came in support.
Speaking to the media in Baramati, Ajit Pawar on Sunday said, “Was all NCP people present in that (Friday’s) press conference? Since it was a media interaction, only four to five leaders were present, including state NCP chiefs Jayant Patil, Praful Patel and some leaders from Kerala and North India.
Pawar Sir Told us not to come. As it was his decision, others did not come for the presser,” he said ExplainedReferring to the press conference in which Sharad Pawar said that he has decided to withdraw his resignation.
In this background, another statement of Sharad Pawar regarding his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule assumes significance.
Amid speculation about Sule being a possible candidate to lead the NCP after Pawar’s exit, Sharad Pawar said that he had made it clear that he was not interested in leading the party and would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Will focus “Supriya said she is not ready to take any new responsibility,” Pawar said on the sidelines of his program on Sunday. first public engagement That sent shock waves since his May 2 announcement.
However, while saying this, Pawar also indicated that Sule may not be averse to leading the party anytime in the future.
(Editing by Amritansh Arora)