Top leaders from both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party gathered in Baramati on Saturday. This meeting followed disappointing results in recent municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra. The discussions lasted for about an hour.
Conflicting Statements on the Meeting
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who leads the NCP, denied that any formal meeting occurred. He told reporters he visited Baramati solely for an agricultural exhibition. "No such meeting took place," Ajit Pawar stated firmly. He explained that as the local representative, he attended the exhibition's inauguration. He mentioned learning that Sharad Pawar would also be present, prompting a visit to his house before proceeding to the event.
In contrast, Supriya Sule, working president of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), confirmed the gathering. She said leaders from both parties did meet and discussed various issues. NCP State president Sunil Tatkare claimed unawareness of the meeting, citing his presence in Mumbai.
Focus on Future Electoral Challenges
An NCP leader revealed the talks centered on the poor civic election performance. Both sides acknowledged the need to unite to tackle upcoming challenges. Shashikant Shinde, state president of NCP (SP), attended the meeting. He told reporters the factions explored contesting the forthcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections together.
"We came to Baramati to discuss the possibility of contesting ZP and Panchayat Samiti elections jointly, similar to our approach in municipal corporation polls," Shinde said. He indicated that while some areas might see joint contests, others could involve separate campaigns.
When questioned about Shinde's comments, Ajit Pawar responded cautiously. He said he would gather information but noted that alliance decisions are often delegated to local leaders.
Addressing Election Results and Future Plans
Ajit Pawar commented on the NCP's losses in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. He emphasized respecting the people's mandate. "We have accepted it with all respect. I congratulate all winners," he said. He acknowledged the BJP's success, attributing it to effective campaigning under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
"The voter is king. We must make efforts to win. The BJP achieved outstanding success and deserves appreciation," Ajit Pawar remarked. He urged losing candidates not to lose heart but to continue working for the people.
On analyzing the defeat, Ajit Pawar said the party would examine what went wrong. He humorously noted that even media predictions had been inaccurate. He avoided commenting on EVM-related objections or issues with indelible ink.
Denials on Merger and External Influences
Shinde clarified that the meeting did not discuss a merger of the two NCP factions. The focus remained on electoral collaboration. Ajit Pawar also dismissed speculation linking industrialist Gautam Adani's recent Baramati visit to political changes. He stated Adani came to inaugurate an AI building, calling it unrelated to politics.
When asked about family unity between the Pawars, Ajit Pawar called it an internal matter. "As a family, we are together in good times and bad times," he said.
The NCP (SP) also accepted the election results. They vowed to prevent vote division in future polls. Both factions appear to be reassessing strategies after a tough electoral battle, with local body elections now on the horizon.
