Time will decide Pawar's political heir: Supriya Sule

NCP MP Supriya Sule today caused a flutter saying that time will decide who will be the political heir of her father and party supremo Sharad Pawar.

"For Yashwantrao Chavan (first Chief Minister of Maharashtra), Pawarsaheb was his 'manasputra' (political heir). However, time will decide who will be his (Pawar's) political heir in future," Supriya said in a lighter vein while replying to a query on who will be the political successor of the Maratha strongman.

Supriya addressed a press conference here to announce state-level essay competition at school and college levels, organised by 'Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan' to celebrate Pawar's 50 years in political sphere.
 

"When ambitions clash, conflict arises... However, in our family there are no clashes as our ambitions are different, our personalities are different and Pawar saheb has allowed these personalities to blossom," she said while underlining that unlike other political families, there are no differences in their family.

While some politicians expect former deputy chief minister and Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar to take the mantle from his uncle, some view Supriya as the natural successor to the veteran politician.

The speculations that senior Pawar was trying to promote Supriya were rife when she was made the president of NCP's women wing in 2012.

On completion of two years in power by the BJP-led government, she said the government has "failed" to give fixed rate for the agriculture produce.

"See the condition of farmers in the state. The rates have plummeted for onion, tomato, soyabean and custard apple.. This government has failed completely," the NCP leader said.

Supriya said the issue of malnutrition is big, which the government has "failed" to address.

"There were some good schemes initiated by our government earlier. However, those schemes have been replaced," she said.

Supriya expressed displeasure over the manner in which Tata Sons removed Cyrus Mistry from the post of chairman.