Mumbai, Apr 7 (PTI) A day after NCP leader Parth Pawar hit out at the Congress for fielding a candidate in the Baramati assembly bypoll, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said to contest elections is a constitutional right, and the Grand Old Party deserves respect.
Speaking to reporters, Sule also said that she and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar had been invited by NCP leaders to remain present when Parth’s mother and Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination for the byelection on Monday.
Parth Pawar on Monday said the Congress would “suffer” for fielding a candidate against Sunetra Pawar, which drew a rare public rebuke for him from NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar who questioned the “political maturity” of his grandnephew. Congress has the right to contest an election as an independent political party, the Pawar senior stated.
The April 23 byelection was necessitated by the death of NCP chief and Sunetra Pawar’s husband Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28.
When asked about Parth’s comment and Sharad Pawar’s reaction, Sule said, “In our family, when elders speak, we listen, and personal advice is given at home, not publicly. I was brought up with this principle and follow it in both my family and in politics.” Congress played a role in the Independence movement and has worked for the progress and development of the country, the Baramati MP further said.
The party has the right to contest an election as per the Constitution drafted by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, she said.
“It is a party that works within the framework of the Constitution and it deserves respect. I have contested elections with the Congress support and guidance. We have grown up with the Congress ideology,” said Sule, whose father Sharad Pawar parted ways with the grand old party in 1999 but subsequently formed an alliance with it.
She also stated that NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil had invited Sharad Pawar and her to Baramati when Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination for the byelection.
“Pawar saheb had to take oath as Rajya Sabha member in Delhi, so he could not be there,” Sule said, while not giving the reason for her absence.
She also evaded a direct reply when asked if she would visit Baramati for campaigning.
The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti had sought an unopposed election of Sunetra Pawar as a mark of respect to her late husband. The NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) too did not field candidates, but the Congress chose to contest by announcing the candidature of Akash More. PTI MR KRK
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