‘What’s the use of expressing regret in media’: NCP (SP) rejects Ajit’s remark over LS contest

The leader also said blaming his party’s parliamentary board for Sunetra Pawar’s candidature means Ajit Pawar is not owning up the responsibility of defeat.

In the Lok Sabha polls, Ajit gave NCP ticket to Sunetra in Baramati — the Pawar familyhome turf — to take on Sule, who retained her seat by defeating her sister-in-law by over 1.58 lakh votes. (Express Photo)

After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed regret in a media interview over making his wife Sunetra Pawar contest against cousin Supriya Sule in Lok Sabha election, a senior leader from the NCP (SP) questioned whether he has extended the apology to his sister and uncle Sharad Pawar personally, instead of speaking out in media.

“What’s the use of expressing regret in the media? He contested against Supriya Sule and Sharad Pawar. Shouldn’t he have made a personal apology if he was serious? As far as I know, no contact has been made to either of them,” a senior leader from the NCP (SP) told The Indian Express. The leader asked whether Ajit Pawar would be showing the regret on staking the claim on NCP’s poll symbol and the name as well.

The leader also said blaming his party’s parliamentary board for Sunetra Pawar’s candidature means Ajit Pawar is not owning up the responsibility of defeat. “A leader like Sharad Pawar faced the people of Satara and Amravati during Lok Sabha campaign. Sharad Pawar accepted that he gave wrong candidates in the past and owned up his mistake. But Ajit Pawar is blaming the party’s parliamentary board. Should a leader run away from the responsibility,” asked the NCP (SP) leader.

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Also Read | Sanjay Raut puts Supriya Sule on the spot over Ajit Pawar’s remark, asks ‘what will she do on Raksha Bandhan?’

“I love all my sisters. One should not allow politics to enter homes. I made a mistake in fielding Sunetra against my sister. This should not have happened. But the parliamentary board (of NCP) made a decision. Now I feel it was wrong,” he said in an interview with Marathi news channel “Jai Maharashtra”.

Sule is the daughter of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, who is now the NCP (SP) chief. In July 2023, his estranged nephew Ajit rebelled against him along with his faction of MLAs and leaders, splitting their party to join the ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Also Read | Behind Ajit’s ‘mistake’ remark, bid for sympathy, fear of another battle of Pawars in Baramati

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut asked what would Sule do this Raksha Bandhan. “Ajit Pawar is not fit for politics… now he can do anything before the Assembly elections to avoid being defeated. They lost badly in the Lok Sabha polls. So now he will go on Raksha Bandhan to tie rakhis to avoid getting defeated. When Dada goes to get the rakhi tied, the question is, what does Sule do,” he said, reminding Sule that Maharashtra fought for her in the Lok Sabha elections and helped her retain the Baramati seat.

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Asked about her reaction to Raut’s statement on Tuesday, Sule avoided a direct response saying: “I have not heard Ajit Pawar’s statement and therefore I cannot comment on it.”

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