Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra NCP president and recently elected MP from Raigad, dismissed rumors on Thursday about a potential defection of several party legislators to the NCP (SP) faction led by Sharad Pawar.
"None of our legislators are planning to shift to the NCP (SP). On the other hand, some MLAs from the Sharad Pawar camp are in touch with the Congress," Tatkare asserted.
This statement was in response to NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar's claim that approximately 12-13 NCP MLAs were in contact with the Sharad Pawar camp and might consider switching allegiance soon.
Insiders from the NCP(SP) said about 18-19 MLAs from the NCP have been in touch with the Pawar faction and are seriously considering a switch.
All this after the poor performance of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in the Lok Sabha polls, where it could win only one out of the four seats contested. In contrast, the NCP (SP) won eight out of the ten seats it contested.
Earlier on Thursday, Ajit Pawar conducted a meeting with the party ministers to assess the NCP's performance in the general elections.
A senior NCP minister commented, "It was a stock-taking meeting in which the shortcomings in carrying out poll management were discussed. It was decided that all the ministers will submit a report from their respective districts detailing what corrective measures should be taken to further strengthen the party network ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled later this year."
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