Sunetra Pawar denies internal rift in NCP, argues party will introspect after MLC poll defeat

Sunetra Pawar denies internal rift in NCP, argues party will introspect after MLC poll defeat

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP ) president Sunetra Pawar on Friday dismissed reports of internal differences within the party, saying there was no rift among its leaders and that electoral defeats called for self-introspection.

On Thursday, NCP (SP) leader Pratap Singh Patil, following the victory in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Division Graduate Constituency MLC election, asserted that a “100 per cent wave of change” is sweeping Maharashtra. He said educated voters have delivered a resounding message that the electorate can no longer be taken for granted.

We will definitely do self-introspection,” Sunetra Pawar said on Friday. “There was no rift among us, and whenever there is an election, victory and defeat happen. If there is a defeat, there is a need for self-introspection. The results delivered a split verdict in the two constituencies, with the BJP winning the Teachers’ seat and the NCP (SP) securing the Graduates’ seat. The outcome also saw the defeat of the sitting Congress MLC in the Teachers’ constituency, while the opposition party’s alliance partner retained the Graduates’ seat.