Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) working president Supriya Sule has said that political rapprochement with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is not possible while he is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Sule also said that he would not be a contender for the prime minister’s post if Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comes to power. Sule, a four-time Lok Sabha member, said people voted carefully in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and now there is clarity in the minds of voters. He believes that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will perform well in the assembly elections to be held on November 20.
The MVA consists of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Congress. Supriya Sule said, “It is difficult to say whether the Pawar family will be able to reunite with Ajit Pawar politically or not. As long as he (Ajit Pawar) continues to work for the BJP, it will not be easy. Our ideologies remain a political challenge.
Supriya not in CM race
On speculations about her being the chief ministerial face of the MVA, she said: “I am not contesting the elections and the NCP (SP) has made it clear that we are not in the race for the chief ministerial post. “We are clear on this and any decision our colleagues make, we will support.” When asked if the upcoming assembly elections would remove political disunity in Maharashtra, Sule said the Lok Sabha election results have removed the confusion. Sule denied that there was any strategy to contest only 10 Lok Sabha seats. He said: “The PCN (SP) is not a party that creates strategies, but a party that serves. We don’t make strategies. We focus on serving the nation and doing good political work.
expressed confidence in the good performance
Supriya said the NCP (SP) is contesting 86 seats out of 288 (as per MVA allies’ seat-sharing agreement) in the Maharashtra assembly elections and is confident that it will do well. Sule said there was nothing wrong with the delay in finalizing the distribution of seats among MVA allies. “In a vibrant democracy, coalition talks take time, we must respect our allies,” he said. “We make sure we don’t put pressure on anyone.”
Ideological struggle in Baramati
Sule said he does not consider the contest for the Baramati assembly seat, Pawar’s family stronghold, as anything more than an ideological fight. Here Ajit Pawar competes against his nephew Yugendra Pawar. He said, “We are with the Congress and they are with the BJP. We are fighting against the BJP, so we are also fighting against its allies.” Expressing gratitude to voters for winning the Lok Sabha elections for the fourth time this year, Sule said he is hopeful that the assembly elections in Baramati will be fair.
Mahayuti alliance threatens people
Supriya Sule claimed that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is threatening the people. He said: “The people are brave and I will support them.” Supriya Sule, reacting to Ajit Pawar asking for votes from Baramati voters, said, “My policy is to serve the country and do good and serious political work.” “I ask for votes, it will not be for my happiness, it will be for the happiness of the people,” he stated. I want all my partners to be happy. If they are happy, I will be happy too. (PTI input-language)
