Supriya Sule interview: ‘We have never hidden Pawar family’s ties with Adani… NCP(SP)-NCP alliance in place for civic polls’
“Our communication with Ajit Pawar has been established and we are in constant touch now, especially about our seats,” says the NCP (SP) working president and Baramati MP
NCP(SP) working president and Baramati MP, Supriya Sule, the daughter of Sharad Pawar, talks about a range of issues, including the January 15 civic body polls across Maharashtra and her party's roadmap ahead. While the two NCP factions – the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the NCP(SP) led by Opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar – have come together to contest the upcoming municipal corporation elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, they have yet to spell out the details of their seat-sharing agreement. NCP(SP) working president and Baramati MP, Supriya Sule, the daughter of Sharad Pawar, speaks to The Indian Express about a range of issues, including the January 15 civic body polls across Maharashtra and her party’s roadmap ahead. Excerpts:
*Are both NCP factions contesting together in the civic body polls? Has the NCP(SP) given AB forms to 70 of your candidates to file their nominations for the elections to the 165-member Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)?
Yes, our alliance is in place. With regard to candidates, we are collecting information from across the state about what exactly has happened. I do not have the full data yet.
*Who took the decision to join hands? Did you initiate talks or did the proposal come from Ajit Pawar?
How does that make a difference? Aam khao, ped mat gino (eat the fruit, why count trees?). I do not want to get into this.
*Why did the NCP(SP) choose to ally with the NCP?
It was a decision of the party and was unanimously taken by both sides.
*Do you fear that a poor performance in the January 15 polls may lead to your party facing an existential crisis?
There is no such thing as fear in politics.
*You had earlier said that Ajit Pawar had not been responding even to your phone calls. Are you on talking terms now?
Yes, of course. Our communication has been established and we are in constant touch now, especially about our seats.
*Is your alliance with the NCP statewide or is it just restricted to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad?
I am not sure. We are collecting data. We will have a clear picture only after we get data from across the state.
*Your alliance has triggered speculations that the two NCP factions are going to merge…
I cannot prevent speculations but have no time for them. I am busy with the civic body elections.
*Are you in favour of a merger with the NCP?
Like I have no answer to whether it will rain now, it is the same regarding your question. I am not a speculative person. I live in a real world.
*The Pawar family recently rolled out a red carpet for Gautam Adani for an event in Baramati…
This was not the first time he (Adani) came to Baramati. He has been visiting us for the past 30 years.
He comes every Diwali to wish Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar).
*But your MVA ally Congress has been critical of Adani?
What does this have to do with our personal relations with that (Adani) family? We have never hidden it.
*There has also been a buzz that the reunion of Pawars would lead to the NCP(SP) joining the BJP-led Mahayuti. What is your response?
As I said earlier, speculations are something I cannot stop and I do not have the time to speculate. I dedicate my time to work.
*Does that mean you are dismissing this buzz?
How can I talk about something which does not exist?
*Will it ever happen?
I have no idea. I cannot say anything. I am in the middle of a lot of activity. Currently, we are focused on the 29 municipal corporation elections.
*Are you saying that the NCP(SP) will never join the Mahayuti?
Do not put words in my mouth. Like I said, there are no such discussions. We (NCP-SP and NCP) are in an alliance. We are focused on the civic body polls and have no time for speculations.
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