No split in NCP, reiterates Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday once again denied a split in his party and said while it is true that some MLAs have left legislators alone do not mean an entire political party reported news agency PTITalking to reporters in Kolhapur Sharad Pawar asserted that he is the national president of the NCP and Jayant Patil heads its state unitNCP has not split While it is true that some MLAs have left MLAs dont mean a political party Why give importance to rebels by taking their names Sharad Pawar was quoted as saying by news agency PTIOn Friday when Pawar was asked about his daughter and party working president Supriya Sules statement that NCP has not split and Ajit Pawar continues to be its leader he said Yesthere is no dispute about it But hours later Pawar said he did not make any such statementAjit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joined the Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaBharatiya Janata Party BJP government in the state on July 2 creating a split in the Sharad Pawarfounded partyThe NCP chief admitted that some MLAs had written to him on joining the Shindeled government when the one led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA collapsed following a split in the Shiv Sena But no decision was taken he saidTargeting the BJPled central government Sharad Pawar said I will continue to oppose fascist tendencies There has been misuse of central probe agenciesHe said a review of the 2024 Lok Sabha election preparations along with joint campaigning will be discussed during the meeting of opposition INDIA alliance scheduled in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1I can see a change in Maharashtra People are disappointed with those who went with the BJP I am sure people will give a right mandate in the elections and they will show the BJP its rightful placeDuring the upcoming meeting in Mumbai a review of Lok Sabha elections along with joint campaigning will be discussed Pawar saidWhen asked about Kolhapurbased NCP leader Hasan Mushrif joining the Ajit Pawar faction he said Mushrif was facing ED raids But the action has now stopped Dont know with whom he initiated a dialogue for thisMushrif managed to escape by praising the ruling party he saidTalking about Chandrayaan 3 mission Pawar said Its a great success for us Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO scientists should be felicitated Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to an ISRO facility to meet the scientists by breaking the protocol but it is okayHe criticised PM Modi saying that the latter does not want local body electionsHe only thinks about the Lok Sabha elections He doesnt want to know the janmat peoples opinion the veteran leader allegedWith inputs from PTI