Sunetra Pawar Should Be Sent To Rajya Sabha, Given Place In Modi Govt: NCP's Pune Unit Demands

The Pune unit of the Nationalist Congress Party on Monday passed a resolution demanding that Sunetra Pawar, the wife of party president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, be sent to the Rajya Sabha and she be made a minister in the Union government.

A letter written by NCP Pune unit chief Deepak Mankar detailing these demands has been sent to Ajit Pawar, party functionaries said here.

The party, founded by opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar, celebrated its 25th anniversary during the day.

"Sunetra Pawar should be sent to Rajya Sabha and must be given a state cabinet portfolio (MoS) in order to give strength to the party and the office bearers," the letter written by Mankar said.

The NCP had refused to take the offer of minister of state with independent charge in the Narendra Modi government on Sunday after reiterating that its Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel must be made cabinet minister.

Sunetra Pawar had lost from Baramati Lok Sabha seat to sitting MP Supriya Sule in the recent general elections.

The NCP split in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government. The party name and symbol was allotted to the faction led by him. Sharad Pawar now heads the group which has been christened NCP(SP).