'Not a single MLA will leave': Sharad Pawar rejects defection speculation in NCP (SP)

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 reportedSpeaking to reporters in Pune in the presence of his grandnephew Yugendra the veteran leader said Not a single one of our MLAs is going anywhereVIDEO Baramati Maharashtra When asked reports claiming split in his party NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar says This discussion is meaningless Not even one of our MLAs will leaveNCPSP SharadPawar MaharashtraPoliticsFull video available on PTI Videos hellip pictwittercomBGDx962t4dmdash Press Trust of India PTI_News June 25 2026Pawars 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 Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT to the Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaThe development has fuelled speculation that the ruling Mahayuti alliance mdash comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP Shiv Sena and the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar mdash could attempt to attract legislators from other opposition parties including the NCP SPReacting to claims by NCP Member of Legislative Assembly MLA Baba Atram that some MPs from the Sharad Pawarled faction were preparing to switch sides NCP SP MP Supriya Sule dismissed the assertionsGive us the five names you claim are leaving If you cant stop the rumours Or better yet invite us mdash all eight of our remaining MPs will show up together Why dont they ever dare to invite me to these discussions Sule saidAddressing 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 differencesShe also reiterated her confidence in both the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance INDIA bloc at the national level and the MVA alliance in MaharashtraI spend a lot of time in Delhi The opposition alliance is incredibly robust We meet at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges office every single morning at 1000 am to align our daily strategy floor management and speakers Sule saidSule defends MVA unity criticises politicisation of cooperativesSule said political rivalries should not extend to the cooperative sectorTake the Mumbai Bank elections for example mdash people from all political parties coexist there Coops and financial institutions shouldnt be turned into political battlegrounds she statedSule also criticised the Centre over reports that the history of the Emergency imposed in 1975 would be given greater emphasis in school textbooksEducation 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 saidSule questions defections from Shiv Sena UBTReacting to reports that the six former Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MPs had initially intended to join the BJP before moving to the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena Sule criticised the ruling allianceI 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 askedSule 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 exampleWhat 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 questionedWith IANS and PTI inputs