Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday expressed confidence in the unity of his party, asserting that none of the NCP (SP) MPs would defect despite speculation that some leaders were in contact with the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.Addressing reporters, Pawar contrasted his party’s position with the recent split in the Shiv Sena (UBT), saying, “Shiv Sena UBT MPs have split, none of our MPs will split.”Pawar’s comments come amid reports suggesting that some NCP (SP) MPs and MLAs were in touch with the rival NCP faction.His remarks also follow weeks of political turmoil within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)UBT Seeks Speaker’s InterventionThe six MPs who switched allegiance are Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar.The MPs were formally inducted into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena on June 22 in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, accompanied by fellow MP Anil Desai, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and urged him not to take any decision regarding the six MPs without first hearing the party’s side.
