NCP Leader Praful Patel Attends NDA Meeting, Affirms Party’s Commitment to Alliance

New Delhi, July 18, 2023: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel, who had participated in the opposition meeting in Patna last month, made a surprising appearance at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting in Delhi on Tuesday, accompanied by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Following the meeting, Patel declared that the NCP is an integral part of the NDA and affirmed that his party will continue to collaborate with the alliance in the future.

Patel stated, “I and Ajit Pawar were present at the NDA meeting today, along with 38 political parties. NCP is an integral part of NDA. In the future, NCP will work with the NDA.”

During the meeting, Ajit Pawar presented his views on behalf of the NCP, according to Patel. The gathering, held on the occasion of the NDA’s 25th anniversary, saw the participation of 38 political parties.

Earlier on Monday, after his separation from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, Praful Patel met with the NCP Chief. However, he refrained from commenting on the issue, stating that they had requested Pawar to maintain party unity.

Patel, accompanied by Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare, visited Sharad Pawar at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. The purpose of the meeting was to seek Pawar’s blessings, as Patel clarified. He mentioned that Pawar did not extend an invitation but they had come to seek his guidance.

In a surprising turn of events on July 2, Ajit Pawar, an NCP leader, took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Eight other party legislators also joined the NDA government in the state.

Praful Patel’s presence at the NDA meeting signifies a significant development in the political landscape, highlighting the NCP’s engagement with the alliance and reinforcing the NDA’s unity as it moves forward.