Pune: A meeting between former state president of NCP (SP) Jayant Patil and BJP’s national general secretary Vinod Tawde in Mumbai has led to speculation about Sharad Pawar’s party exploring options of joining the NDA.The recent meeting between Patil and Tawde created a political flutter but Patil called it a non-political one. He told TOI, “The members of a joint parliamentary committee were in Mumbai hotel where I visited them. I happened to meet Tawde where we spoke briefly over coffee, but no political discussions happened between us.”Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis too refuted any such developments. He told reporters in Delhi on Tuesday, “We are not trying to engineer any split in Sharad Pawar’s party. No attempts are being made to bring MLAs and MPs of NCP (SP) to our side. No new party from Maharashtra will join the NDA.”The meeting was held amid rumours of NCP (SP) MPs getting offers to join NDA allies after six MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) switched to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe also grabbed attention when he said that if a ‘proposal’ comes from Mahayuti, he would give it a thought. Though Kolhe later claimed that his statement was misconstrued, it led to speculation about NCP (SP) looking for options.On Kolhe’s statement and a meeting between Patil and Tawde, former MLC and NCP member Amol Mitkari said, “If NCP (SP) wants to avoid Shiv Sena (UBT) kind split through Operation Tiger, joining NDA would be the best option for Sharad Pawar’s party. Going with the party which is in govt both at the Centre and state would be a wise decision.”NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule refuted speculation about her party joining NDA. “I am not aware of the meeting (between Patil and Tawde). Tawde and I are part of a joint parliamentary committee for corporate laws where we have met more than 20 times in the last month. Our party’s objective is quite clear and that is to raise voice for the people,” she said.
