PUNE: Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, closely watching the developments in the NCP, said that if Sharad Pawar refuses to withdraw his decision to step down as its president, they will throw their weight behind his daughter Supriya Sule, over his nephew Ajit Pawar, to lead the party.
Sharad Pawar, who met party workers camping outside YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai on Thursday, told them to wait for a couple of days for a clear picture. Not only NCP leaders but also those from MVA have been urging him to continue as the party chief.
Some said, based on their past experience of working with Ajit, his aggressive nature will create hurdles in smooth communication among the allies.
“It is an internal matter of the NCP to select their leaders. But, as MVA partners, we cannot ignore the developments within the party. For a strong alliance, we would like to see Sharad Pawar continue as NCP chief. However, since Supriya Sule’s and Ajit Pawar’s names are being discussed, our choice will be Sule,” a senior Congress leader told TOI on the condition of anonymity.
Other Congress leaders said they have had their differences with Pawar while running a coalition government in the state in the past.
“There is nothing personal against Ajit. But, in the past, we had some issues regarding his adamant working style. Sharad Pawar, who intervened then, did not allow the matter to escalate,” another Congress leader said.
“Ajit Pawar is a task master and we have seen his hold over the administration when we were in power. His aggressiveness helped MVA during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, sometimes, the same nature can create problems while negotiating issues,” another MVA leader said.
Others said an NCP leader with a presence in Delhi makes a difference. “Ajit Pawar has been concentrating on state politics while Sule has been representing the party in the national capital. If the party wants to expand and draw more parties, a leader in New Delhi is important. If Sharad Pawar continues as NCP president, the allied parties will not have an issue. If there is a change, the new leader should look at expanding the party's network in the national capital,” a former MP and senior Congress leader said.
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