The NCP dismissed claims that 22 party legislators were in touch with NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, labeling the reports false. Party spokesperson Umesh Patil clarified that no MLA had contacted Sharad Pawar or met him for political reasons. He emphasized the party’s unity under the leadership of Ajit Pawar, the party president and Deputy Chief Minister.
Patil, alongside MLAs Sanjay Bansode and Pratap Patil Chikhalikar, reiterated the party’s stance following reports hinting at a shift in NCP MLAs. He criticized the media for spreading news without concrete evidence and questioned the authenticity of claims that 22 MLAs had met Sharad Pawar. The official press conference aimed to dispel any misunderstandings among party members due to these rumors.
Highlighting the NCP’s democratic values, Patil stressed that party members have the freedom to express their opinions and meet individuals of their choice. He accused a section of the media of promoting a false narrative and urged responsible reporting after thorough fact-checking. The party’s strength was underlined with recent political inclusions, including Prabodh Davkhare joining the NCP.
Patil urged the media to avoid disseminating unverified news that could confuse the public. He also mentioned the party’s pending correction to the Election Commission regarding the omission of senior leaders from the national executive. Patil clarified that Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare still hold their respective positions despite the clerical error.
