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Journalism of Courage
Both the ruling and Opposition Nationalist Congress Parties celebrated the 25th foundation day and claimed to be the original party on Monday, with Baramati MP-elect 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 recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, where it won eight out of the 10 seats it contested.
Attending the flag-hoisting ceremony at the party office in Mumbai, the ruling NCP’s state unit chief, Sunil Tatkare, said the party’s only aim from now on would be winning the upcoming Assembly elections.
For his part, Ajit Pawar said he would comment later on the party’s failure in the Lok Sabha elections and also about its decision not to join the Union cabinet.
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 Praful Patel and Sunil 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. It is set to hold a public rally in Ahmednagar on Monday evening.
Supriya Sule, the party’s national working president and MP-elect, taunted the NCP led by Ajit Pawar on the occasion. “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,” she said, addressing a press conference in Pune.
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.
