Pune: Sharad Pawar Addresses NCP Reunion, Sunetra Pawar’s Loss, and Bhujbal Meeting

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande

Pune, 17th July 2024: Today, veteran leader Sharad Pawar held a press conference in Pune. This came after more than 20 key political leaders from the Pimpri Chinchwad area joined his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), departing from his nephew Ajit Pawar’s faction.

During the conference, he addressed various topics, including whether Ajit Pawar would reconcile with him, the reasons behind Ajit’s wife Sunetra’s loss in the Lok Sabha elections, and the purpose of his meeting with Chhagan Bhujbal. The press conference has sparked intense discussions in political circles across Maharashtra.

“Decision on NCP Reunion Not Solely Mine”

NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, experienced a split in 2023 when his nephew Ajit Pawar left to form a government and became Deputy Chief Minister. Despite rebelling against his party and retaining the original name and symbol, there have always been discussions about a possible reunion between uncle and nephew.

When asked about a potential political reunion between the uncle and nephew, Senior Pawar replied, “Elections come and go. Family always stays. There is a place for everyone in the house. But whether there is a place in the party or not, I won’t make this decision alone. I will consult my colleagues who were with me during my struggles, and if they agree, then we can reunite.”

“Connection with People Key to Supriya Sule’s Win”

After the NCP split, Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, contested in the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramati Constituency against Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule. After months of intense campaigning and political manoeuvres, Supriya Sule emerged victorious and became the MP for Baramati. Sunetra Pawar was subsequently elected as a Rajya Sabha MP.

When asked about Sunetra Pawar’s loss despite Ajit Pawar’s development efforts in Baramati, Sharad Pawar replied, “Oh, it’s Baramati! How well-connected are you with the people of the constituency? That makes a big difference. There wasn’t that level of connection. When anyone meets me in Baramati, I have to inquire about their father’s name to place them in their family context. If a connection is maintained over two generations, people will never forget the leader. That’s why I was confident that the people of Baramati would choose Supriya Sule. Even though there were two candidates from the same family, my connections spanned two generations.”

I Met With Bhujbal Because…

Chhagan Bhujbal, a long-time associate of Sharad Pawar, also sided with Ajit Pawar during the NCP split in 2023. However, recent rumours suggest Bhujbal’s discontent with the Maharashtra State Government’s stance on Maratha Reservation, given his position as an OBC leader. His recent meeting with Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence has fueled speculation and discussions.

Regarding the meeting with Chhagan Bhujbal, Sharad Pawar commented, “Recently, he delivered a couple of good speeches expressing interest and appreciation for me. He insisted on meeting, so I met him.”

When asked about the current situation regarding Maharashtra reservations, he added, “The Chief Minister’s colleagues met Jarange Patil. We are unsure about their conversations. Shinde and Jarange had some interaction. A gentleman went on a fast for OBC. Some ministers have left, but people from the ruling party are talking. I don’t know what’s going on. It’s unclear what specific proposals were discussed.”