Maha: Sunil Tatkare meets Sharad Pawar, says visit was only to inquire about health

Mumbai, May 12 Amid political turmoil in the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar Group) after veteran heavyweights were sidelined in favour of the next generation of the Pawar family in the national executive, party Member of Parliament Sunil Tatkare on Tuesday evening met Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) President Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence, Silver Oak.​

Tatkare clarified that the meeting was not political and was intended solely to check on the senior leader's health, as he had been unwell for several days.​

This was the first meeting between the two since the split within the Nationalist Congress Party in July 2023.​

Tatkare, who the Nationalist Congress Party President Sunetra Pawar has appointed to the newly constituted national working committee as Nationalist Congress Party leader in the Lok Sabha, stated that he had requested an appointment due to Sharad Pawar's recent poor health.​

He emphasised that no political discussions took place, specifically noting that Sunetra Pawar’s recent posts on X regarding the national executive or the party split were not discussed.​

Tatkare reaffirmed that work under Sunetra Pawar's leadership would continue.​

Despite the “health inquiry” claim, political circles are abuzz due to the timing of the visit.​

The meeting took place when Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel’s names were missing from the official letter sent by the Nationalist Congress Party to the Election Commission regarding national positions.​

Tatkare’s visit to Sharad Pawar’s Mumbai residence, Silver Oak, also follows a recent joint tour of Assam by Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare, which was seen as an attempt to project party unity.​

The fact that Tatkare visited Pawar’s Mumbai residence, Silver Oak, marks a symbolic moment, as the party had split into two factions.​

Eyebrows were earlier raised when the names of senior stalwarts, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dilip Walse Patil, were reportedly missing from the executive list dated April 29.​

In the newly formed national executive, Sunetra Pawar has been named the National President, her elder son, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Parth Pawar, the National General Secretary, and her younger son, Jai Pawar, the National Secretary.​

The absence of Sunil Tatkare, who previously served as National General Secretary, and Praful Patel, a trusted veteran, sparked immediate speculation about a potential internal purge or a major strategic realignment.​

As the list went viral on social media, Sunetra Pawar moved quickly to quell the controversy.​

In a post on X, she clarified that the discrepancies were not intentional.​

“There is a technical error in the list of Nationalist Congress Party office-bearers currently circulating in the media. It will be corrected soon,” she stated.​

However, in the three-page document submitted to the Election Commission of India, one page provided details on the establishment of the national working committee, headed by National President Sunetra Pawar.​

In the same document, Praful Patel has been inducted as a Nationalist Congress Party leader in the Rajya Sabha, but there is no mention of him as national working president.​

Sunil Tatkare has been designated as the Nationalist Congress Party leader in the Lok Sabha, without his being mentioned as the Maharashtra unit president.​

He is no longer the National General Secretary.​

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) President and Member of Parliament Sharad Pawar expressed concerns about PM Modi’s recent appeal to citizens for “austerity.”​

Pawar warned of potential long-term impacts on the national economy.​

He urged the Prime Minister to convene an all-party meeting and consult experts to restore confidence among citizens, industries, and investors.​

Citing the unstable and war-like situation in West Asian countries, he noted that the Prime Minister’s appeal has caused public anxiety.​

He stressed that decisions on matters of national interest must involve all political leaders and renowned economists.​

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) leader Jayant Patil reacted to the Prime Minister's appeal for citizens to reduce the use of petrol, diesel, and gas.​

Patil remarked that while the middle class always fulfils its duty, the government must lead by example.​

He criticised Chief Ministers, ministers, and officials for travelling in convoys of dozens of vehicles.​

Patil demanded that the ruling party practise the “Nation First” policy by reducing the number of vehicles in their personal and official convoys.

--IANS

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