I Cannot Run Away From Nepotism: Supriya Sule

NCP leader Supriya Sule, who was announced the party's Working President along with Praful Patel on Saturday, has said that she is a proud daughter of Pratibha and Sharad Pawar and she "cannot run away from nepotism".

"I cannot run away from nepotism. I am the proud daughter of Pratibha Pawar and Sharad Pawar. What's wrong with it? Which party doesn't have nepotism? Even the BJP, which talks about it so much, has nepotism. I will show 50 names (of BJP leaders) who got the post because of nepotism," she said on Sunday.

She urged that the debate should be around the performance and mentioned about her performance in the Lok Sabha.

"Why can't we talk about performance while we talk about dynasty politics? Look at my Parliament performance. Now Parliament is not run by my father, uncle or my mother. But that performance data in the Lok Sabha shows that I am on the top of the chart. There is no dynasty politics. That's on merit. I think you can't selectively use nepotism against me or anybody," Supriya Sule stated.

She thanked the party leadership for giving her more responsibility. "I am grateful to all NCP cadre, leaders and Mr Pawar for showing faith in me. My priority is strengthening the party," Sule stated. "My priority is to strengthen the party, build a strong organization and serve the people of the country," she told the reporters in Pune.

On asking about the rumours of Ajit Pawar quitting the party to join hands with the BJP, "Ajit Pawar is my brother, my leader. He is at my side and I know that he recommended my name," India Today quoted the NCP leader as saying.

When asked whether Ajith was being sidelined in the party, the NCP MP slammed the BJP for creating rifts. She said, "I don't understand why the BJP is obsessed by Ajit Pawar, BJP is only interested in creating rifts. There is a saying: People pelt stones on the trees laden with mangoes, that's where they want to get hurt."

Ajit Pawar was seen as an heir-apparent in the NCP, but his dalliances with the BJP, including an early morning swearing-in as Maharashtra deputy chief minister along with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2019, had not been received well by the party.

It has to be noted that Sule has also been appointed the chairperson of the party's Central Election Authority as well as the in-charge of Maharashtra.