Pune: Amid rumblings within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following its defeat in the recent legislative council elections, party chief Sunetra Pawar on Thursday said the party would introspect on its performance and work to address its shortcomings.
“We will certainly introspect on our shortcomings and improve. Her remarks come amid growing discontent among a section of senior party leaders over decisions taken by the leadership without, they allege, consulting senior functionaries. The discontent reportedly centres on the decision to concede the Pune Graduate constituency seat to the BJP and the appointment of NCP MLC Zeeshan Siddique as the party’s Mumbai unit president. “When Ajitdada was alive, he used to consult senior party functionaries before finalising decisions. Some leaders believe that those who were close to the late Ajit Pawar are being sidelined in the party’s decision-making process.
The party will make all efforts to improve its performance,” she said. But things have changed since his demise,” the leader said.
Some party leaders believe the remarks were directed at Sunetra Pawar and her son, Parth Pawar.
Parth played a role in Siddique’s appointment as Mumbai unit president, according to party sources.
The discontent has also surfaced following the party’s defeat in the Sambhajinagar Graduate constituency, where its candidate Satish Chavan lost to NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Pratapsinh Patil. “How will the party benefit in Mumbai by making Zeeshan the local unit president? The appointment could detrimentally impact the NCP’s traditional voters in Mumbai, who belong to the majority community.
There is considerable internal discontent, and if our party chief does not change her style of functioning, the differences could widen,” the leader said.
