NCP denies internal differences over Amit Shah meeting; calls reports misleading

Mumbai: The NCP rejected reports suggesting internal differences within the Suntera Pawar-led party over a meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and its senior leaders in Delhi on Monday, saying the meeting was pre-planned and formal.

Nationalist Congress Party national chief spokesperson Umesh Patil said reports claiming Sunetra Pawar, Maharashtra deputy chief minister and party president, and Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar were sidelined during the meeting were incorrect, baseless and misleading.

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The statement came in the backdrop of party leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Dilip Walse Patil, Hassan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde meeting Shah in Delhi this morning.

"Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar had earlier met Shah and discussed various issues facing the party following the death of Ajit Pawar. During that meeting, Sunetra Pawar had informed Shah that a delegation of senior party leaders would meet him and requested him to give them time," Patil said.

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The senior leaders were well-versed with important issues from Ajit Pawar's tenure, matters concerning the state's interests and various party-related issues, he said, adding the meeting on Monday was held in this context.

The leaders also raised various issues concerning their respective constituencies and held informal discussions with their counterparts from the Mahayuti alliance, Patil said.

"Attempts are being made to give an unnecessary political twist to the meeting and create a narrative of internal differences and lack of coordination within the party. The NCP is an important constituent of the Mahayuti alliance and remains united under the leadership of Sunetra Pawar," he said.

The media must verify facts before reporting on the NCP, Patil asserted.

"Do not politicise formal meetings between leaders of alliance partners. Speculation should not be portrayed as fact," the NCP leader added.