‘Failed to counter Opposition narrative’: Ajit Pawar’s party sets eyes on Assembly polls

The NCP, while being part of the NDA, must ensure that its connection with backward classes and minorities is re-established, Pawar said, adding, “Shiv, Shahu, Phule and Ambedkar have been the NCP’s ideology and will remain so. It is the soul of the party. We have joined the NDA for the sake of development of country and the state. We will never give up on this ideology.” He also called on party leaders to emphasise on party’s absolute support to the Constitution.

Stressing on ensuring equal share in Assembly seats, NCP national working president Praful Patel said that the party already has over 50 seats. “There is no question about these seats. We will be getting additional seats as well,” he said.

Acknowledging that the NCP and even the BJP failed to counter the narrative of the Opposition about changing the Constitution, Patel said, “We couldn’t even convey to the people that there are over 100 MPs from SC and ST categories and how would they allow any changes to the Constitution… it is important to reconnect with the minority community as well, which we will have to do the in coming days.”

NCP state president Sunil Tatkare asked state ministers to not comment on seat sharing as it attracts reply from other parties as well, creating rift within the alliance. “We already have 53 MLAs and few other independents with us. Whatever we get, it will be more than this. I am going to tell you the number. But I want nobody to comment on seat-sharing as it attracts reply from other parties and it would lead to vitiating environment in the alliance,” said Tatkare, adding that the next aim would be to focus only on Assembly segments.

Senior party leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal, too, mentioned that seat-sharing talks should be finished at the earliest. “Last time I was criticised for saying that we should get at least 80 seats. We accept that BJP is a big brother but we too have 40-45 MLAs, like Eknath Shinde has… therefore, we should get as many seats as them (Shinde Sena),” said Bhujbal.

Celebrating the foundation day, both the ruling and Opposition NCP factions claimed to be the original party, with newly elected MP from Baramati, Supriya Sule, seeking to remind the Ajit Pawar-led party that its Election Commission-granted status was “temporary”.

The ruling side, led by Ajit Pawar, is armed with the original party name and poll symbol, while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP banks on the overwhelming support it received in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, where it won eight out of the 10 seats it contested.

The undivided NCP was founded by Sharad Pawar on June 10, 1999, at a public rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. Faced with the split in the party last year, Pawar has barred the breakaway group from using his photograph in any of its programmes and offices.

A video released by the ruling party on the 25th anniversary day features only Ajit Pawar, national working president Patel and Tatkare, who has just been elected from the Raigad Lok Sabha constituency.

On the other hand, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP conducted the anniversary programme in Pune and held a public rally in Ahmednagar Monday evening.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, Sule, the party’s national working president, taunted the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, saying, “We have already gone to the court and the name and symbol they use come with a notice below it. It is temporary. The party does not belong to them as of now.”

Asked about Ajit Pawar’s party failing to get a berth in the new NDA government at the Centre, Sule recalled how the Congress-led UPA had given more Cabinet berths to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.

“That relationship was based on mutual trust and respect. Not only from the Congress, but we never had to demand any Cabinet berth from Uddhavji in the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi). We were not bound by any number game and formula. It was more about respect and talent,” she said.