Baramati MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday claimed there was no split in NCP and the Pawar family. Her statement runs contrary to what Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said recently that there was clear-cut division in NCP. “There is no split in NCP and the Pawar family. I don’t have anything to do with the private lives of any leader including that of Sharad Pawar and Rohit Pawar. Though we are family members, they have their own individual lives. They have every right to keep their lives private. We cannot mix our private and professional lives. We cannot reveal our family issues to the outside world,” Sule told reporters in Pune. Sule’s statement might cause confusion in NCP (SP) rank and file led by Sharad Pawar. This is because Ajit Pawar had made it clear that NCP is a party divided. “We are on one side and they are on the other side. And there is no chance of coming together,” he had said recently. Sule said she had never hid personal relations with leaders of other parties. “I share good rapport with leaders of other parties. I have political and ideological differences with leaders of other parties but nothing personal against them. Everyone has the right to express his or her views. They have their own style. As we live in a democracy, I’m in touch with everyone. I represent the people, I keep discussing various development issues with leaders of other parties,” she said. Sule said the country and the state were heading towards dictatorship by dumping democracy. “We live in a democracy. It’s up to every individual to decide his conduct. Maturity comes with age. But during the recent budget session of the state legislature, MLAs and ministers were at loggerheads. There cannot be anything more dirty than this,” said Sule while taking a jibe at the Mahayuti government.
