NCP won't field nominee against Gopinath Munde's kin for Lok Sabha bypoll: Sharad Pawar

MUMBAI: NCP will not field any candidate for Beed Lok Sabha bypoll if BJP were to field a member of Gopinath Munde's family, Sharad Pawar said here today. He was speaking at an all party condolence meeting for Munde, former Union minister, who passed away after a road accident on June 3. Pawar recalled Munde's humble upbringing and his contribution to Maharashtra's development.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh described Munde as a champion of poor and farmers. "I am sure that Mundeji's daughter Pankaja will try to fill the void caused by his demise," Singh said.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said both Munde and late Pramod Mahajan had ties with the Thackeray family. He assured Pankaja that he would always support her like a brother. Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were among those present on the occasion.