Mumbai: Six senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday, November 2, amid the party's demand that the Maharashtra finance portfolio be returned to the NCP, news agency ANI reported. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Sunetra Pawar has now called a meeting of the party's MLAs, MPs and top organisational leaders at her Mumbai residence at around 7 pm on Tuesday.
Source: ANI
The leaders who met Shah were Dhananjay Munde, Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, ANI said. The absence of Sunetra Pawar and her son, MP Parth Pawar, from the Delhi delegation raised questions over the party's leadership, and the finance portfolio — held by the late Ajit Pawar until his death in a plane crash in January — has since been held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, according to reports.
Source: ANI
Attendance at Mumbai meeting seen as a test
The Daily Jagran reported that several issues are likely to be discussed at Tuesday's meeting, including party functioning, state and central politics, and concerns raised by senior leaders. The number of senior leaders who attend is being seen as a measure of Sunetra Pawar's hold over the party. Reports cited by the Jagran said some senior leaders have complained about a lack of transparency and about Parth Pawar's functioning; these are reported grievances, and the party leadership has said it will work in coordination with the senior leaders. The reports also said Shah suggested the leaders end any infighting and work jointly in the interest of the NDA.
Source: Daily Jagran
Party denies any rift
The NCP has denied any internal conflict. State party chief Sunil Tatkare said, as reported by NDTV: "There is no discontent within the party... The Delhi meeting was pre-planned; all our leaders are united." Sunetra Pawar herself dismissed reports of internal differences on Friday, ANI reported, saying after the party's defeat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections: "There was no rift among us, and whenever there is an election, victory and defeat happen. If there is a defeat, there is a need for self-introspection. We will definitely do self-introspection."
Source: Daily Jagran
The party's setback came in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates' constituency, where its candidate and three-time sitting MLC Satish Chavan lost to Pratapsinh Patil of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), ANI reported.
Source: ANI