Mumbai Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were seen together at the wedding reception of Revati Sule, daughter of NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. This picture, which surfaced on Monday, attracted a lot of attention in political circles. The reason for this is that Sharad Pawar’s party NCP (SP) is part of the opposition India alliance, while there is a BJP government at the center under the leadership of Narendra Modi. In such a situation, the presence of the three leaders together is being considered important from the politics of Maharashtra.
However, it would be premature to consider just the photo of the family function as a sign of a new political alliance. NCP (SP) has been making it clear earlier also that the purpose of the meetings of party leaders with the Prime Minister is to put before the Center the issues of public interest related to Maharashtra and its Lok Sabha constituencies.
Eight NCP (SP) MPs met PM Modi on the same day
Before Revati Sule’s reception, all eight Lok Sabha MPs of Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. The delegation was led by Supriya Sule. The MPs presented many important issues related to Maharashtra before the Prime Minister.
In the meeting, issues related to drought, irrigation, interlinking of rivers, railways, loan waiver of farmers and MPs’ respective Lok Sabha constituencies were discussed. The MPs also submitted a written memorandum to the Prime Minister.
According to NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe, the issue of Pune-Nashik Semi High Speed Rail Project and loan waiver of farmers was also placed before the Prime Minister. He said that there was no discussion on the proceedings of Parliament in the meeting, rather the MPs took the issues related to their areas and Maharashtra directly to the Prime Minister.
Issues ranging from onion price to river pollution arose.
Many other issues related to farmers and common people of Maharashtra were also raised in the meeting. These included topics related to onion price, pollution in Chandrabhaga river and development in the state.
NCP (SP) MPs also demanded Bharat Ratna for Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Shaheer Annabhau Sathe and Tukdoji Maharaj. Apart from this, a request was made to name Navi Mumbai Airport after former Maharashtra Minister DY Patil. The MPs described the meeting with the Prime Minister as positive and said they were assured of considering the issues raised.
Political eye also regarding delimitation
The meeting of NCP (SP) MPs with PM Modi has come at a time when the discussion among political parties regarding the proposed delimitation is intense. The stance of NCP (SP) is also being monitored.
However, Supriya Sule has said that the party will decide its final stand on any proposal after the law or bill comes forward. The party says that important issues like delimitation will also be discussed within the India alliance.
According to reports regarding Monday’s meeting, the MPs discussed their Maharashtra-centric issues with the Prime Minister. Delimitation and the controversial FCRA Amendment Bill have not been mentioned as the main topics of the meeting.
Modi and Pawar have met before too
This is not the first meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharad Pawar. Earlier in July, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule had met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi. Many issues including students, examinations, farmers, water management and education were discussed in that meeting.
Even after these meetings, the NCP (SP) has been making it clear that the purpose of the talks with the Prime Minister is not to change the political alliance, but to put the issues related to Maharashtra and public interest before the Central Government.
The picture again increased political speculations
Sharad Pawar’s political role has been under constant watch since the NCP split into two factions in Maharashtra politics. In such a situation, the meeting of NCP (SP) MPs with Prime Minister Modi on the same day and then the sighting of Modi, Sharad Pawar and Amit Shah together at the wedding reception has definitely become a topic of political discussion.
However, it would not be appropriate to directly link these incidents to any new political alliance or change in the stance of NCP (SP). The party is currently a part of the India Alliance and the NCP (SP) itself has linked such meetings to issues of public interest.
Nevertheless, amidst the changing political circumstances of Maharashtra, a picture of Modi-Pawar-Shah and the meeting of NCP (SP) MPs with PM Modi on the same day has definitely given rise to new discussions in the political circles.