NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar calls for party meeting tomorrow in Mumbai

PUNE: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of his party’s office bearers, MPs and MLAs on Wednesday at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai. The meeting is against the backdrop of a recent visit by NCP working president Praful Patel and state chief Sunil Tatkare to his residence in Mumbai last week.

Pawar was not keeping well for the last few months but has recovered. Party members have not revealed the agenda, but considering the differences that have cropped up in the other NCP group and Patel and Tatkare’s meeting with Pawar amid speculation that both are being sidelined in their party, the NCP (SP) members feel the upcoming event is important.

“Sharad Pawar is expected to take stock of the situation for the party in the state during the meeting with the office bearers. However, issues about NCP’s discourse are expected to be discussed with the party’s core team in a separate meeting,” a senior party office bearer told TOI.

Preparations for the party’s foundation day on June 10 will also be discussed. NCP (SP) MLA and Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Rohit Pawar said, “I do not know the agenda. Senior members of our party are likely to speak on various state issues.”