There has been a sudden upsurge in the politics of Maharashtra these days. The market of discussions is hot whether the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) is preparing to join the NDA? These speculations got fueled when senior NCP leader Jayant Patil on Tuesday met BJP national general secretary and Vinod Tawde, considered close to Amit Shah. However, Jayant Patil has termed this meeting as completely non-political.
What is the truth behind this meeting?
Giving clarification to the media, Jayant Patil said, “I had gone to meet the members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee in a hotel in Mumbai. Coincidentally there I met Tawde and we had coffee together, but there was no discussion on politics.” On the other hand, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also denied these reports outright. He bluntly said that no efforts are being made to bring the leaders of NCP (Sharad faction) into its fold and no new party is going to join the NDA.
Changed tone of MPs and MLAs?
These political discussions started when after the Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs joined Shinde’s faction, there were reports of NCP MPs also getting offers from NDA. NCP MP Amol Kolhe’s statement also made headlines in which he had said that if any proposal comes from Mahayuti, he will consider it. However, he later clarified his statement and called it a misunderstanding.
At the same time, NCP member Amol Mitkari believes that going with NDA can be a wise decision to avoid situations like ‘Operation Tiger’. On the other hand, party’s working president Supriya Sule rejected these speculations and said that our party’s stand is very clear and we only know how to raise the voice of the public.
Power equations and internal discussions
If sources are to be believed, many MPs and MLAs of NCP (Sharad faction) are in favor of getting closer to power to get funds for development works and to remain in active politics. It is discussed that the party has demanded a post at the Center for Supriya Sule and ministerial posts for Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad in the Maharashtra government. However, Rohit Pawar has made it clear that there is no question of going along with BJP’s communal agenda as NCP is a secular and progressive party.
Amidst all these speculations, the Congress party has also become alert. According to media reports, Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal have started brainstorming with senior leaders of Maharashtra on the possibilities of future alliance or merger of NCP (SP) and Congress.
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