Page 5 - Nationalist Congress Party

Is Pawar's exit from NCP a precursor to new power equations in Maharashtra?

Some NCP leaders say Pawar's decision to step down from the presidentship of the party is a precursor to new power equations in Maharashtra

Politician Sharad Pawar quits as NCP chief, then agrees to 'rethink'

Pawar's move comes on the heels of two key developments. Last month, the Election Commission stripped the NCP of its status as a 'national party'

Here's a look at Sharad Pawar's eventful journey in Indian politics

Sharad Pawar's dramatic announcement to quit as president of NCP, the party he founded 24 years ago, has put the focus on the over five decade-long career of the 82-year-old veteran in Indian politics. From student politics to becoming Maharasthra's chief minister four times, and a decade-long stint as Union minister, Pawar has been a master at political moves. Pawar began his political journey in 1958 when he joined Youth Congress four years later became Pune district Youth Congress president. He won the Assembly election in 1967 from his home turf Baramati constituency and since then has been a member of either the state legislature or Parliament. In 1978, Pawar, then 38, became the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra. His Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government was in power for two years. In 1988, Pawar became the chief minister of Maharashtra for the second time. In 1990, he became chief minister of for the third time. In 1991, Pawar became the defence minister in th

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit K'taka on Tuesday ahead of assembly polls

With just weeks left for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to arrive in the state on Tuesday during which she will campaign for the party

Congress accuses BJP of fuelling speculation on Pawar's next political move

The Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday accused the BJP of fuelling speculation of a split in the NCP ranks even after senior party leader Ajit Pawar clarified his position. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde must ask the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) why it was trying to put so much "pressure" on him and his Shiv Sena. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said he would work for his party till he is alive and scotched speculation that he and a group of MLAs loyal to him might align with the ruling BJP. Pawar said is no truth in reports about any rift in the NCP and his joining hands with the BJP. The NCP leader had also dismissed reports that he had taken the signatures of 40 of 53 MLAs of NCP amid a buzz about his rumoured alliance with the BJP. ''Even after Ajit dada Pawar clarified his position yesterday, the BJP is sowing news in the media through its sources. Eknath Shinde ji and his group must a

Won't be in govt if Pawar joins BJP with NCP group: Shiv Sena spokesperson

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat has said if Ajit Pawar joins the BJP with a group of NCP leaders, then the Eknath Shinde-led Sena will not be part of the government in Maharashtra. Talking to mediapersons in Mumbai on Tuesday, Shirsat, whose party shares power with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra, said he thinks the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will not go with the BJP directly. "Our policy is clear about it. The NCP is a party which betrays. We will not be with the NCP even in power. If the BJP takes NCP with them, Maharashtra will not like it. We decided to move out (of the earlier undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray) because people didn't like us going with the Congress and NCP," he said. Shirsat said Ajit Pawar has not said anything which means he doesn't want to be in the NCP. "We left the Congress-NCP (which were part of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government) because we didn't want to be with them. Ajit Pawar doesn't have a free hand there. ...

MVA should work unitedly irrespective of differing opinions: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), of which his party is a constituent along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, should work together unitedly even though the allies may have differences of opinion. Talking to reporters here, Pawar said the issue of unity among the allies was discussed during his meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday. Pawar said some programmes have been decided for the unity of the alliance. "Everyone should participate in these programmes. This is the policy we agreed on yesterday," he said. The meeting between Pawar and Thackeray took place days after the NCP chief favoured a probe by a Supreme Court panel into allegations against the Adani Group over a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have been insisting on a JPC probe. Pawar had earlier said although the NCP did not agree with the dema

EC grants national party status to AAP; Trinamool, NCP, CPI lose tag

The Election Commission on Monday recognised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party and withdrew the national party status of the All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI). In an order issued on Monday, the Commission also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram. The Commission said the AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in four states -- Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is in power in Delhi and Punjab. The poll panel said that the status of NCP, CPI and the Trinamool Congress as national political parties would be withdrawn. The BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People's Party (NPP) and the AAP are now national parties. The Commission said that NCP and Trinamool Congress will be recognised as state parti

The Pawar gambit: Why did the Maratha strongman come to Adani's defence?

It may be too early to say that the political chameleon from Maharashtra is changing colours again

Efforts on to divide people and involve them in temple politics: Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed attempts were being made to divide people based on caste and religion and rulers are not interested in resolving problems of people but are instead trying to divert their attention with "temple politics". Addressing a function here in north Maharashtra, Pawar blamed the economic policy of the current Union government for the plight of Marathi-speaking textile mill workers in Mumbai. Pawar also accused the government of trying to weaken labour unions and make them dependent on it and appealed to workers in the country to unite to secure their future. "At many places, government works are closing. There are attempts to divide people over caste and religion. There are many issues such as unemployment, price rise and there are expectations that power should be used to resolve these problems but rulers are not interested," he claimed. In a veiled jibe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who is on Ayodhya visit, Pa

Rahul Gandhi disqualification: Kharge accuses Centre of double standards

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the Centre of double standards, saying while it disqualified Rahul Gandhi with lightning speed, a Gujarat MP who was convicted in a criminal case did not face the same action. Kharge was referring to the BJP's Amreli MP Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadia, who was awarded a three-year jail term by a court. Kachhadia's conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Gandhi was convicted by a lower court in Gujarat's Surat and sentenced to prison for two years on March 23 for a speech in which he linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's last name with two fugitive businessmen, remarking how the "thieves" shared the same last name. A day later, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha. Kharge said the Gujarat MP was allowed to attend the Parliament but a person who speaks the truth has been kept out of Parliament. "The height of the Modi government's hypocrisy and double standards -- a BJP MP from Gujarat is awarded a ...

I never expressed wish to join BJP, says NCP leader Anil Deshmukh

NCP leader Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday denied that he had ever expressed desire to join the BJP. Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule had claimed earlier that Deshmukh had inquired about whether he could join the BJP before the last assembly polls. Addressing a press conference here, Deshmukh claimed that Bawankule was quoting him out of context and he never wished to join the BJP.

2023 will be a great year if country gets good rainfall: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said if 2023 witnesses a good monsoon, it will be a "great" year for the country as it will help the agriculture sector thrive and drive up the economy. He also noted that India can become an important country in terms of export. Pawar was talking to media persons in his hometown in Pune district on the New Year's eve. "As many as 50 to 60 per cent of the people of the country are dependent on agriculture. If we get favourable rainfall in the country, it will be a great year for all of us. The purchasing power of people will rise if agriculture flourishes. I pray that the farmers of the country would be happy in the coming year," he said. Once farmers are happy, other businesses will also witness "great" days, the former Union agriculture minister said. "On a global stage, India can become an important country in terms of exports. Therefore, there should be new reforms in industries and trade. No matter who remai

Take back 'Amazon parcel': Uddhav Thackeray wants Centre to recall Maha Guv

The Shiv Sena leader also exhorted all 'Maharashtra lovers' to protest the governor's remarks on Shivaji

Money laundering case: Court allows Nawab Malik to undergo diagnostic test

A special court here on Tuesday allowed the plea of former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, arrested in a money laundering case, seeking permission to undergo diagnostic examination PET-CT. The money laundering case against Malik (62) is linked to the activities of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. The NCP leader, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February this year, is in judicial custody and currently undergoing treatment at a hospital here. On Monday, Malik, through his lawyer Taraq Sayyed, filed a plea seeking permission for undergoing PET-CT scan. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of a person's tissues and organs. Special judge R N Rokade on Tuesday allowed his plea and directed the Arthur Road Jail superintendent to take Malik for the scan at the Nuclear Imaging Centre at Sarvodaya Hospital in suburban Ghatkopar. The expense for the scan will be borne by th

Maharashtra govt scales down security of several opposition leaders

The Shinde-Fadnavis government has removed the security personnel deployed for the security of several senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party, Congress Party and the Uddhav Thackeray faction

I appreciate that I'm seen as the underdog in Congress election: Tharoor

Political career spent defending the values of inclusive India, allegations of disloyalty to Nehru Gandhi family malicious: Congress MP

Democracy at work: How various national parties elect their leaders

While the leaders of bigger national parties like BJP and INC have limitation to their powers, smaller parties tend to give wholesome control to their leaders

Stage set for Digvijaya Singh vs Shashi Tharoor for top Congress post

Gehlot apologises, opts out of race; Sonia to take call on Rajasthan CM

NCP attacks Centre, Maha govt on farmer suicide, asks to decide priorities

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday attacked the Centre and the Maharashtra government over the suicide of a farmer in Pune, with party chief Sharad Pawar saying those in power in the state should decide their priorities, an apparent swipe at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Addressing reporters, NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase claimed the farmer had blamed the Modi government for agrarian distress. "Dashrath Laxman Kedari, a farmer from Junnar (in Pune district) died by suicide on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday (September 17). He blamed the Modi government for farmers in distress in the country. We condemn the Modi government. When an annadata (food provider) commits suicide, then the government has to give a justification for this, Tapase said. Reacting to the farmer's suicide, Pawar said those in the power in the state, where farmers have to resort to suicide, should decide "what to celebrate and what to appreciate". Pawar was ...