NCP Strikes Back: Claims Sharad Pawar's Party is Desperately Struggling to Find Candidates for Assembly Elections.
Sharad Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), stated that his party remains open to welcoming back MLAs who had aligned with Ajit Pawar.
A day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar stated that his party remains open to welcoming back MLAs who had defected to join Ajit Pawar, the NCP responded sharply on Wednesday, suggesting this move reflected desperation in a party struggling to secure leaders for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Sharad Pawar saheb’s party is struggling with a mere handful of MLAs and is now searching for candidates willing to contest under its banner,” NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil told The Indian Express on Wednesday.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured 54 seats. However, in 2023, the party experienced a significant split when 41 MLAs, led by Ajit Pawar, defected to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following this, the Election Commission ruled in favor of Ajit Pawar, allowing him to retain the NCP's name and symbol.
When asked about the NCP's plans for the upcoming elections and whether they would field all 41 MLAs, Patil responded, "This will depend on our internal survey and the MLAs' performance over the past five years. Additionally, we have requested them to conduct their own surveys to gauge their standing.
Patil mentioned that there’s a chance some MLAs might not be selected for upcoming elections if surveys indicate they’re unpopular among voters. “In those situations, we’ll persuade the MLAs to accept alternative roles within the party. They will be entrusted with significant responsibilities because every MLA and leader holds great value to us. The MLAs supporting Ajit Pawar have joined of their own accord, recognizing that only Ajit Dada can drive progress for the state and their constituencies,” he added.
Patil’s remarks follow recent statements from Rohit Pawar, who claimed that 17-18 MLAs were in communication with the party's leadership, with an imminent decision expected. Sharad Pawar also expressed openness to accepting MLAs who would bolster the party, though he noted, “I will need to consult with my party leaders on this matter.
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