NCP integral part of NDA, says Praful Patel

Pic/PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel who had earlier attended the Opposition meeting in Patna last month, was present at the NDA meeting in Delhi on Tuesday along with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Soon after attending the meeting Praful Patel said that NCP is an integral part of the national Democratic Alliance and his party will work with the NDA in future, reported news agency ANI.

"I and Ajit Pawar were present at the NDA meeting today along with 38 political parties. NCP is an integral part of NDA. In future, NCP will work with the NDA," Praful Patel was quoted as saying by ANI.

"38 political parties were present on the occassion of the 25th anniversary of NDA. From our side Ajit Pawar presented his views at the meeting," Praful Patel added.

Earlier on Monday, after having rebelled from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, Praful Patel met the NCP Chief and said that a request was made to the veteran leader to keep the party united, but he refrained from commenting on the issue.

Praful Patel along with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare visited Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai.

While addressing the media, he said, "Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and I met Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan Centre. We again requested him to keep NCP united, and he listened to us but did not say anything about it."

Praful Patel further stated that they met Sharad Pawar to seek his blessings. "Sharad Pawar did not invite us even today, we had come to meet Sharad Pawar to seek his blessings," he said.

In a surprise move on July 2, NCP leader Ajit Pawar took oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister along with eight other party legislators also joining the NDA government in the state.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the new opposition front on Tuesday, saying alliances built on negativity have never succeeded and asserting that the NDA will return to power for a third consecutive term, bagging more than 50 per cent of the vote share.

Addressing a meeting of the 39 NDA constituents, PM Modi said the ruling alliance recently completed 25 years, which was the legacy of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee shaped by L K Advani, who continued to guide the group.

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