Mumbai:
Addressing the defeated candidates of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday, party president Sharad Pawar argued that the youth, the minorities supported the NCP, so also the farmers supported the party. He added that the poor amongst the section of the society supported the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). Pawar said that in the coming days he would work towards bringing back the dalits and neo-buddhists that have gone to the Vanchit fold back to the NCP side.
The NCP president admitted that the party did not take note of whether the dalits and neo-buddhists were on its side or not before the assembly elections and hence the party suffered some setbacks. Pawar stated that now the party shall through its work try and win back these sections of the society towards the NCP. Commenting upon rebellion in the party, the NCP chief remarked that when one complains of party cadres not working for the party and indulging in anti-party activities, then one must know that time has come to check ones own work
Pawar stated that in some places the party tasted defeat
as for years together the reigns of the party there was in the hands of one
leader, need to give chance to new leadership. He further admitted that the
party fell short in its work in SC, ST communities. The NCP president stressed
upon the need for paying more attention to Mumbai and Thane regions where the
party has won just one seat in Mumbai.
NCP legislature party leader Ajit Pawar in his speech urged the defeated
candidates not to get demoralized and work with renewed vigour for better
performance in the next elections. Stating that victory and defeat have to be
honorable, the NCP leader stated that in this election it has been honorable
victory for the NCP. Pawar stated that
if the cadres appear confused then why should the people vote for the party and
“Saheb” (Pawar senior) is combing the length and breadth of the state, at such
times how will it be-hove of you if you behave in such a manner. He said that
those who had quit the party are now asking whether they can return back to the
party fold.
Pawar stated that the NCP will use all the legislative devices at its disposal
to make life difficult for the new government on the floor of the house. In a
note of caution, the NCPLP leader stated that the defeated party candidates
will ask for being accommodated in the Legislative Council. Pawar stated that
these defeated candidates should not be under any illusion that their good days
will come anytime soon. State NCP president Jayant Patil stated that the party
lost some seats by very narrow margins. He added that Pawar Saheb toured the
state and the mood swung in favor of the NCP.
