NCP factions effectively united after joint manifesto, claims Vijay Wadettiwar

A joint manifesto of the NCP and NCP SP meant both factions have effectively come together Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on Saturday and referred to speculation about possible induction of NCP SP leader Supriya Sule in the Central government reported news agency PTIlsquoReunion driven by power not ideologyrsquo alleges WadettiwarHowever the ldquoreunionrdquo appeared to be driven by the lure of power rather than ideological convergence or concern for party workers he allegedWadettiwar was reacting to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP Sharadchandra Pawar working president Sule releasing a joint manifesto for the Pune civic polls at a press conference signalling growing proximity between the two factions after their bitter split in July 2023Background of NCP split and EC recognitionAjit Pawar had revolted against his uncle Sharad Pawar and walked out with loyalist MLAs to join the then Shiv Senaled government The group was later recognised as the real NCP by the Election Commission and was allotted the lsquoclockrsquo poll symbolThe breakup was followed by the NCP and NCP SP fielding candidates against each other in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly electionsIdeology or power is real question says Congress leaderResponding to speculation about reunification the Congress Legislature Party leader said the real question was whether the move was for ideology party workers or merely powerNotably the NCP and NCP Sharadchandra Pawar have allied for the elections to the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal CorporationslsquoIf manifestos are together factions are togetherrsquoldquoIf their manifestos have come together then it can be said they have come togetherrdquo Wadettiwar said reported PTIAccording to him the potential induction of NCP SP leaders Rohit Pawar in the Maharashtra cabinet and Baramati MP Sule in the Union government is being widely discussedNCP SP part of Maha Vikas AghadiThe NCP Sharadchandra Pawar is an ally of the Shiv Sena UBT and Congress in the opposition Maha Vikas AghadildquoTraditionally the NCP keeps changing its stand because it cannot survive without power If it remains out of power the party will collapserdquo Wadettiwar alleged reported PTICongress fighting to protect Constitution says leaderThe Congress on the other hand is not fighting for power but for safeguarding the Constitution and democracy under Rahul Gandhirsquos leadership he saidOn the political situation in the Ambernath municipal council involving allies Shiv Sena and BJP Wadettiwar termed it a ldquosham fightrdquolsquoAllies quarrel briefly reunite for powerrsquoldquoThey quarrel today but will they walk out of power tomorrow This is all temporary Later they will come together again to enjoy the fruits of powerrdquo he said reported PTIAfter the December 20 local body polls the local unit of the BJP joined hands with its archrival Congress under the banner of lsquoAmbernath Vikas Aghadirsquo AVA to gain power in the municipal council sidelining ally Shiv SenaCongress suspends councillors after backlashLeft redfaced after the unforeseen tieup the Congress on Wednesday suspended its 12 councillors and a block presidentOn Friday the Shiv Sena and the NCP headed by Ajit Pawar along with one independent member formed a group to stake claim to rule the Ambernath local body by keeping the BJP away from powerShinde Ajit Pawar accused of dividing votersWadettiwar alleged that Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were being used to divide Marathi votes and progressive voters respectivelyldquoThis is aimed at weakening the Thackeray faction and the Congress Alliances during elections are temporary but powersharing happens laterrdquo he claimed reported PTIlsquoSave BJP from rebelsrsquo jibeMocking the BJP amid reports of police being asked to warn rebels Wadettiwar said ldquolsquoSave the BJP from rebelsrsquo should be the new slogan in MaharashtrardquoldquoIf the police are being asked to issue warnings to BJP rebels it reflects the BJPrsquos declining authority The BJP has lost so much credibility that it has to seek police help to control its own rebelsrdquo he added reported PTIWith inputs from PTI