Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur
Nagpur, Jun 13: Senior Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule has firmly rejected speculation about a possible merger between NCP (SP) and the Indian National Congress, asserting that no such proposal has been discussed by either side.
Speaking to reporters amid heightened political activity ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, Sule said the rumours were baseless and that neither party had initiated any conversation regarding a merger.
She clarified that no MLA, MP or party representative had been approached on the matter and that NCP (SP) had also not contacted anyone regarding such a move. According to her, party president Sharad Pawar had neither received any proposal from the Congress nor extended one to the party.
Responding to questions about reports suggesting closer ties between opposition parties at the national level, including speculation involving the All India Trinamool Congress, Sule declined to comment on matters outside her direct knowledge.
She referred to the recent meeting between Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi, noting that only the two leaders were present during their interaction and she was unaware of what was discussed. She added that she had not seen any confirmed reports indicating merger talks arising from that meeting.
Reiterating her position, Sule said there had been absolutely no discussion within NCP (SP) regarding a merger and that no proposal had been communicated to Sharad Pawar from any political party.
When asked whether secular and like-minded regional parties should consider uniting under a broader political platform, Sule shifted the discussion to what she described as the more urgent challenges confronting the country.
She argued that India was facing serious economic, social and political difficulties, including rising inflation, unemployment, corruption and recurring examination paper leaks. According to her, political parties should focus on addressing these concerns rather than engaging in speculation about mergers and alliances.
Sule also referred to the ongoing concerns surrounding medical entrance examinations and said the future of students affected by controversies such as the NEET issue deserved greater attention than political manoeuvring.
Launching a fresh attack on the ruling coalition, she said ordinary citizens and farmers were struggling under the burden of inflation and lack of employment opportunities. She maintained that her party’s responsibility was to stand with those affected rather than engage in efforts to divide families or engineer political splits.
The NCP (SP) leader also spoke about the hunger strike launched by party legislator Rohit Pawar in support of farmers' demands, including a comprehensive farm loan waiver.
Expressing concern for his health amid the scorching summer conditions, Sule said she had initially advised him against undertaking an indefinite fast. However, she acknowledged that his commitment to farmers and agrarian issues ultimately motivated his decision.
She praised Rohit Pawar's determination, noting that he had continued his protest despite fasting for more than 24 hours in difficult weather conditions. Sule described his agitation as a significant struggle for farmers' rights and said she was proud of his efforts to highlight the concerns of the farming community.
Her remarks come at a time when Maharashtra's political landscape remains highly charged, with opposition parties seeking to sharpen their focus on economic and agrarian issues ahead of key electoral contests in the state.