NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said political engagements do not necessarily mean an alliance or alignment and called for a “healthy” dialogue across party lines, stressing that her party and Shiv Sena (UBT) are keen to have DMK in the INDIA bloc.
Her remarks come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Baramati, the home turf of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, and the invitation extended by her party to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for a women’s event in December.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave here, Sule said her party and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are holding talks with the DMK and wanted it to join the opposition alliance.
“We are in dialogue with the DMK and Uddhav Thackeray. The NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are both in talks with the DMK. We are very keen that they be with us in the INDIA alliance,” she said.
On speculation about Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) holding back-channel discussions with the government, Sule said dialogue was essential in a democracy.
“In any democracy, you have to have dialogue. How can there be a loggerhead? This is our politics,” she said.
Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Baramati and her party’s invitation to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for a women’s event in December, Sule said leaders from different political parties could engage with one another for a common cause.
“We have invited Priyanka Gandhi for a very big issue of women in December,” she said, adding that the event had been scheduled for December 16 but Priyanka would be unable to attend.
“If, for a good cause, people meet across the board, there is good debate, there is good dialogue, something good will come out of it,” Sule said.
She cited the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as an example of a policy measure that involved continuity across governments, noting that the then UPA (government) had developed the bill while the NDA implemented it.
“What’s wrong in having a healthy dialogue? That doesn’t mean you are operating (together),” she said.
On the proposed delimitation exercise, Sule said the INDIA bloc would take a collective decision after examining the proposed legislation.
“There is no bill that has been shown to us, sent to us, or that we have read. So unless the bill comes into our hands, and we read it and study it, we cannot comment on it,” she said.