PM Modi, Sharad Pawar spotted at Supriya Sule's daughter's wedding reception
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah sharing the same frame at the wedding reception of Supriya
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah sharing the same frame at the wedding reception of Supriya Sule’s daughter Revati Sule made for striking political optics on Monday. The photograph drew attention because it came amid a series of interactions between the Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Prime Minister, even as the party remains part of the Opposition INDIA bloc. Read Full Story The wedding itself brought leaders from across the political spectrum together, but the image of Modi, Pawar and Shah seated alongside each other acquired added significance against the backdrop of the NCP (SP)’s recent engagements with the Centre. NCP (SP) MPs MET MODI HOURS EARLIER Earlier on Monday, all eight Lok Sabha MPs from the Sharad Pawar-led party, led by Supriya Sule, met Modi and raised a range of "Maharashtra-related issues." The delegation raised concerns over drought, irrigation, river interlinking, railways and farm loan waivers, besides constituency-specific matters.
The MPs also submitted a written memorandum to the Prime Minister. NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe said the delegation highlighted concerns surrounding the Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail project and farm loan waivers. Kolhe said parliamentary proceedings were not discussed, adding that the MPs raised their concerns directly with Modi because disruptions had prevented them from doing so in Parliament. According to sources, issues concerning onion prices and pollution in the Chandrabhaga river were also raised. The delegation additionally sought Bharat Ratna awards for Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Shahir Anna Bhau Sathe and Tukdoji Maharaj, and requested that the Navi Mumbai Airport be named after former Maharashtra minister DY Patil. The MPs described the meeting as positive, while Modi assured them that the issues raised would receive attention, sources said. DELIMITATION BUZZ IN THE BACKDROP The meeting also came amid political speculation over how the NCP (SP) could vote on the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise. Sources had earlier indicated that the Pawar-led party could support the proposal under certain conditions, potentially putting it at odds with some INDIA bloc constituents.
Sule, however, has maintained that the party will decide its position only after seeing the final legislation. She has previously said the NCP (SP) could support a proposal providing for a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across states, subject to clarity over how the expansion would be carried out. The party has also said the issue would be discussed within the INDIA bloc once the Bill is introduced. Neither delimitation nor the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill was discussed during Monday’s meeting, according to sources. Sule has made clear that the NCP (SP) opposes the FCRA amendment in its present form. NOT THE FIRST PAWAR-MODI MEETING On July 22, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule met Modi in Delhi shortly after Pawar visited Jantar Mantar to extend support to protesters raising issues related to students and examinations. That meeting had itself triggered questions over the NCP (SP)’s political strategy and Opposition cohesion. Pawar and Sule had raised student demands linked to the NEET paper leak, along with farmers’ concerns, water management and education-related issues.
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