A brief meeting between NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has set off political chatter, but Supriya Sule moved quickly to douse the fire. Speaking on Friday, Sule, president of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), called the controversy a “storm in a teacup”. “It was just a short courtesy meeting. Nothing more than that,” she told reporters. What triggered the buzz? The meeting took place this week inside the Deputy CM’s office at the Vidhan Sabha. Pawar was there after attending a Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. He also held an NCP (SP) legislators’ meet at the same venue. That timing led MVA allies, especially Shiv Sena (UBT), to question the optics. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was the most vocal. He slammed Shinde as a “traitor” and said Pawar shouldn’t give him legitimacy. “We can’t be seen sipping tea with a traitor,” Raut said, adding that workers were upset and Pawar’s credibility could take a hit. Sule steps in to calm tensions Sule said she spoke to Raut and the issue is resolved. “I have spoken to Sanjay Raut. It was a misunderstanding. We are good now,” she said. A day later, Raut also toned down his remarks. He called Pawar the “tallest leader of MVA” and said he was only voicing workers’ feelings. But he added that Shinde should remain “politically untouchable” for MVA parties. Denial of split rumors The buzz grew after senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan claimed “five or six” NCP (SP) MPs were restless about their political future. NCP (SP) rejected that outright. Senior leader Jayant Patil said all 8 MPs and 10 MLAs are united. “It’s not right for leaders of one party to speculate about another’s internal matters,” he said. Sule also shut down talk of a merger with Congress. “The NCP (SP) is not involved in any merger talks. We haven’t received any proposal from Congress, nor have we sent one,” she said. She stressed that NCP (SP) and Congress remain allies in both the MVA in Maharashtra and the INDIA bloc nationally. “As allies, we were together, are together, and will remain together,” she asserted. Sule also denied reports that any section of NCP (SP) was looking to join the BJP-led NDA. “I am in constant touch with all our eight MPs. We are all united,” she said. “Storm in a Teacup” A brief meeting between NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has set off political chatter, but Supriya Sule moved quickly to douse the fire. Speaking on Friday, Sule, president of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), called the controversy a “storm in a teacup”. “It was just a short courtesy meeting. Nothing more than that,” she told reporters. What triggered the buzz? The meeting took place this week inside the Deputy CM’s office at the Vidhan Sabha. Pawar was there after attending a Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis. He also held an NCP (SP) legislators’ meet at the same venue. That timing led MVA allies, especially Shiv Sena (UBT), to question the optics. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut was the most vocal. He slammed Shinde as a “traitor” and said Pawar shouldn’t give him legitimacy. “We can’t be seen sipping tea with a traitor,” Raut said, adding that workers were upset and Pawar’s credibility could take a hit. Sule steps in to calm tensions Sule said she spoke to Raut and the issue is resolved. “I have spoken to Sanjay Raut. It was a misunderstanding. We are good now,” she said. A day later, Raut also toned down his remarks. He called Pawar the “tallest leader of MVA” and said he was only voicing workers’ feelings. But he added that Shinde should remain “politically untouchable” for MVA parties. Denial of split rumors The buzz grew after senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan claimed “five or six” NCP (SP) MPs were restless about their political future. NCP (SP) rejected that outright. Senior leader Jayant Patil said all 8 MPs and 10 MLAs are united. “It’s not right for leaders of one party to speculate about another’s internal matters,” he said. Sule also shut down talk of a merger with Congress. “The NCP (SP) is not involved in any merger talks. We haven’t received any proposal from Congress, nor have we sent one,” she said. She stressed that NCP (SP) and Congress remain allies in both the MVA in Maharashtra and the INDIA bloc nationally. “As allies, we were together, are together, and will remain together,” she asserted. Sule also denied reports that any section of NCP (SP) was looking to join the BJP-led NDA. “I am in constant touch with all our eight MPs. We are all united,” she said. Post navigation MP Government Unveils ₹3,200 Crore Smart City Phase-2 Plan for Bhopal
