Mumbai : Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar indicated on Sunday that he may not be inclined to welcome back rebel NCP leaders, emphasizing the need to support fresh talent within the party. Speaking at an event held at Mumbai’s Y B Chavan Centre, Pawar’s remarks come in the wake of a significant setback for the NCP in July when key figure Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s nephew, and eight senior leaders defected to the ruling coalition led by Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the BJP.
“Some people ask me what should be done if those who joined the government wish to return. We are not going to rush into a decision on this matter. There is a consensus within the party that we should prioritize supporting new and fresh faces in the lead-up to elections,” stated the NCP president.
The faction led by Sharad Pawar in the NCP had informed the Election Commission that there was no internal dispute within the party, except for the actions of a few “mischievous” individuals who had departed from the organization for personal ambitions, a reference to the rebel group.
Pawar also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to Modi’s previous allegations against the NCP.
“Modi referred to the NCP as a corrupt party. However, after those remarks, he included some (NCP) members he had accused in his state government. It demonstrates the principles Modi adheres to,” remarked the NCP president.
Addressing a BJP event in Bhopal a few weeks prior to Ajit Pawar’s rebellion, Modi had accused the NCP of being involved in corruption amounting to Rs 70,000 crore, citing alleged scams in the Maharashtra Cooperative Bank and the state’s irrigation and mining sectors.
Pawar noted the public’s discontent with the developments in the state, expressing disapproval of governments formed by breaking away from other parties.
Just over a year before the NCP’s internal divisions, Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, also experienced a split when Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs left the party. Shinde’s revolt ultimately led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, after which he aligned with the BJP to become the Chief Minister.
