Sunetra Pawars Decisions Will Be Accepted by All Legislators, Says Dattatray Bharane
In Pune, Dattatray Bharane dismissed merger talks amid meetings with Sunetra Pawar, emphasizing her leadership and decision-making authority.
Pune, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : Political discussions around a potential merger between rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have intensified following a meeting at Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s residence in Pune. This gathering, which took place on Friday, has raised eyebrows, especially after Sunetra’s recent comments about the future of the party during a press conference in Baramati. She hinted at forthcoming developments, stating, “As time goes on, you will know everything.”
Dattatray Bharane, the state’s Agriculture Minister, sought to quell speculation, clarifying that the meeting was not political but rather a courtesy visit. He explained, “Every year, we visit Ajit Dada during Diwali. This year, due to his passing, we could not meet. We wanted to see Sunetra Bhawini, who has been unwell and did not celebrate Diwali.”
The discussions among the legislators focused on regional issues, especially in light of potential El Niño effects and drought conditions. Bharane emphasized that there was no official party meeting called, nor any agenda related to a merger. He mentioned that a meeting of all party legislators had occurred about two weeks prior in Mumbai, where Sunetra Pawar was granted the authority to make decisions on behalf of the party.
Bharane reiterated that all legislators support whatever decision Sunetra Pawar makes. He stated, “There is no discontent among the party’s legislators regarding this matter. The final decision rests with Sunetra Pawar.”
In light of rumors about potential defections among party members, NCP legislator Shankar Mandekar also denied the existence of any formal meeting. He affirmed that his visit was to discuss developmental work in his constituency, particularly the inclusion of Mulshi Taluka in the drought-affected list.
Meanwhile, Bharane addressed the need for assistance from the central government to combat drought. He noted that the state has provided financial support to farmers and has requested additional aid from the central government. He expressed optimism that the central government would offer substantial help this year, citing assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Bharane concluded by highlighting the government’s focus on water conservation and infrastructure projects to mitigate the impact of the drought on agriculture and livestock.
