25 June,2026 06:28 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and his grandnephew Yugendra speak to the media in Pune on Thursday. PIC/X
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday rejected speculation about a possible split in his party, asserting that all its legislators remain united, news agency IANS reported.
Speaking to reporters in Pune in the presence of his grandnephew Yugendra, the veteran leader said, "Not a single one of our MLAs is going anywhere."
Pawar's remarks come amid political churn in Maharashtra following the recent defection of six of the nine Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The development has fuelled speculation that the ruling Mahayuti alliance - comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, and the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar - could attempt to attract legislators from other opposition parties, including the NCP (SP).
Reacting to claims by NCP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Baba Atram that some MPs from the Sharad Pawar-led faction were preparing to switch sides, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule dismissed the assertions.
"Give us the five names you claim are leaving. If you can't, stop the rumours. Or better yet, invite us - all eight of our remaining MPs will show up together. Why don't they ever dare to invite me to these discussions?" Sule said.
Addressing reports about the absence of 13 MLAs from a recent Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) meeting, Sule said the legislators had informed state party president Shashikant Shinde in advance and denied any internal differences.
She also reiterated her confidence in both the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc at the national level and the MVA alliance in Maharashtra.
"I spend a lot of time in Delhi. The opposition alliance is incredibly robust. We meet at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's office every single morning at 10.00 am to align our daily strategy, floor management and speakers," Sule said.
Sule said political rivalries should not extend to the co-operative sector.
"Take the Mumbai Bank elections, for example - people from all political parties coexist there. Co-ops and financial institutions shouldn't be turned into political battlegrounds," she stated.
Sule also criticised the Centre over reports that the history of the Emergency imposed in 1975 would be given greater emphasis in school textbooks.
"Education experts are ringing alarm bells that the government is repeatedly misusing the NCERT. Forcing a singular political ideology onto the next generation is highly dangerous for the unity and intellectual growth of our country," Sule said.
Reacting to reports that the six former Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MPs had initially intended to join the BJP before moving to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Sule criticised the ruling alliance.
"I honestly wonder if democracy has ceased to exist in this country. Breaking homes and splitting parties has become the norm. These MPs were elected just two and a half years ago, and the next general elections are scheduled for 2029. What was the absolute hurry?" she asked.
Sule said Opposition parties had historically extended support to governments on important legislation without political coercion, citing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill as an example.
"What is the need for such vandalism and destruction of parties? If there is no opposition left and everyone joins the government, who will speak for the common citizens?" she questioned.
(With IANS and PTI inputs)
