“No Alliance Till Workers Are Convinced”: Supriya Sule Draws Red Line on Tie-Up With Ajit Pawar’s NCP for Pune Polls

Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) working president Supriya Sule on Wednesday made it clear that any possible understanding with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the upcoming Pune civic elections will not move forward unless party workers’ concerns are fully addressed.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Sule said discussions between the two NCP factions are still at an early stage and stressed that trust and clarity within her party remain the top priority. “I will not take even one step ahead until every doubt and apprehension of our workers is resolved,” she asserted.

Responding to visible unease within the party’s Pune unit, particularly expressed by city president Prashant Jagtap, Sule said his concerns were legitimate and deserved serious consideration. “His questions are absolutely valid. As a leader working on the ground, he has every right to raise them,” she said, adding that she had a detailed conversation with him.

Sule underlined that any political understanding would not come at the cost of ideology. “No ideology, no principle, no party policy will be compromised. I have assured this clearly,” she said, dismissing speculation of a hasty alliance.

She also clarified that she has not yet spoken to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on the matter. “I will speak to Ajit Dada only after listening to our workers. Dialogue within the party comes first,” Sule noted.

On rumours that the Sharad Pawar-led faction might be asked to contest on the ‘clock’ symbol if an alliance materialises, Sule firmly rejected the possibility. “Our symbol is ‘Tutari’ and that will remain unchanged,” she said.

Reiterating that talks are still exploratory, Sule remarked, “In a strong democracy, discussion is natural. But discussion does not mean a final decision.”