‘It’s their internal matter': Supriya Sule on Sunetra Pawar-led NCP's talks with Prashant Kishor

Supriya Sule stressed that Prashant Kishor worked independently in his professional capacity and that deciding whom to work with was entirely his call.

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Saturday said it was up to the rival Nationalist Congress Party faction to decide whether it wanted to work with political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, calling it their “internal” matter.

Supriya Sule, the NCP (SP)’s national working president and Baramati MP. (HT_PRINT)

Earlier this week, Kishor met Nationalist Congress Party chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and her son, MP Parth Pawar, in Mumbai.

Sule, the Baramati MP, said Kishor had been her personal friend for several years and that she had never hidden their association. However, she stressed that Kishor worked independently in his professional capacity and that deciding whom to work with was entirely his call, news agency PTI reported.

“Prashant Kishor has been a good personal friend of mine for several years. I have closely followed his work, and I have never hidden our friendship,” Sule told reporters.

“But he works independently in his professional capacity, and with whom he wanted to work was his decision,” she said.

Sule also praised Kishor for his electoral debut in Bihar, where his Jan Suraaj Party won the Bankipur assembly bypoll, defeating the BJP in one of its strongest bastions.

Why Kishor met Sunetra Pawar

The meeting took place three days after Kishor opened Jan Suraaj’s electoral account with his Bankipur victory. NCP spokesperson Suraj Chavan said the discussions focused on strengthening the party’s organisation and ensuring that government development programmes reached the grassroots.

Kishor, who is advising the party on organisational rebuilding, attended the meeting with Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar and other senior NCP leaders, Chavan said.

It was the second meeting between Kishor and Sunetra Pawar since the death of her husband and then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati in January this year. After their first meeting a few months ago, Parth Pawar had said Kishor was known to the family.

Kishor's Bankipur win sparks speculation

Kishor’s meeting with the NCP leadership, however, triggered speculation within the party and among its Mahayuti allies, according to HT's earlier report.

Following the Mumbai meeting, speculation emerged that Kishor could be advising the NCP on organisational and electoral matters, with reports also suggesting that he had recommended replacing Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare.

Tatkare questioned Kishor’s appointment as the party’s election strategist, pointing out that Kishor himself heads a political party. He argued that the NCP did not need a poll strategist and said elections were won through the ability to connect with the masses rather than advice or campaign themes.

“I don’t know what was discussed. We are practical people and don’t believe in theories. Frankly, I don’t need strategists because I’m a field person. A visit to a village tells me about the mood of its people,” said Tatkare, who represents the party as a Lok Sabha MP in Raigad.

“How can he (Kishore) be appointed as the strategist of a party when he is already heading a political party? I am not aware of such an appointment being made. Had the leadership taken such a decision, I would certainly have been informed,” he added.

Tatkare also stressed that the NCP operates under a system of collective leadership and that decisions such as appointing a poll strategist could not be taken unilaterally.

“This tradition has existed since Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar) led the undivided NCP, and it was continued by Ajit Dada (Ajit Pawar) after he took over the reins of the party,” he said.

Tatkare has been the party’s Maharashtra unit chief since the NCP split in June 2023.

BJP unhappy too

Kishor’s engagement with the NCP leadership has also raised concerns within its BJP ally in Maharashtra, particularly given his recent electoral battle against the BJP in Bihar and his past criticism of the party.

“They have the right to take decisions within their party. However, no one should take any step that creates doubts, misgivings or causes harm,” BJP leader and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said.

(With inputs from Faisal Malik)