Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar hinted at his party's stance regarding the rebel NCP leaders during his recent address at Mumbai's Y B Chavan Centre. The NCP faced a significant setback in July when key figure Ajit Pawar, who happens to be Sharad Pawar's nephew, along with eight senior leaders, joined the ruling coalition led by Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and the BJP.
Pawar indicated that there is a prevailing perspective within the party, advocating for support to be extended to new faces within the organization in the lead-up to upcoming elections. Addressing questions about the possibility of those who had joined the government trying to return to the NCP, Pawar stated that no decision had been reached on the matter, PTI reported.
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The faction led by Sharad Pawar asserted to the Election Commission that there was no significant dispute within the NCP, aside from the actions of a few "mischievous" individuals who had defected for personal ambitions, referring to the rebel group.
Pawar also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting his prior allegations against the NCP. He remarked on Modi's decision to include individuals from the NCP in his state government, despite labeling the party as corrupt in the past.
Regarding the state's political landscape, Pawar expressed concern about the public's disapproval of governments formed by poaching members from other parties, emphasizing the need for stability and unity.
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It's worth noting that a little over a year prior to the NCP's internal division, the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, also experienced a split when Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs departed from the party. Shinde's rebellion ultimately led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, after which he allied with the BJP and assumed the position of Chief Minister.
