“Very Painful and Unfortunate”: Supriya Sule Slams Lavni Dance at Ajit Pawar-Led NCP Office in Nagpur; Party Orders Probe

Nagpur: The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) found itself at the center of controversy after a Lavni performance at its Nagpur office sparked outrage and embarrassment for the BJP-allied faction of the Mahayuti government.

A video of the dance, which went viral on social media, prompted sharp criticism from NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) executive chief and MP Supriya Sule, who described the incident as “very painful and unfortunate.”

“This is not the culture of any political party. We are here to serve the people, and at a time when farmers’ lives have been destroyed, such incidents are unacceptable,” Sule said while reacting to the viral video.

In response to the uproar, NCP state unit chief and MP Sunil Tatkare ordered the Nagpur city unit president Anil Ahirkar to submit a written clarification within seven days. “This incident has damaged the image of the party,” Tatkare said, adding that necessary disciplinary action would follow the inquiry.

Ahirkar, defending the incident, told reporters that the performer was a party office-bearer and a Lavni artiste. “It was like a family event enjoyed by party workers, including me. There was nothing objectionable in it, but the media projected it in a wrong way,” he said.

The NCP clarified that the Lavni dance took place during a Diwali Milan programme on October 26, which was not a public event.

However, senior NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel confirmed that the party has taken serious note of the matter. “The party leadership will ensure appropriate action against those responsible,” Patel stated.