Pune: Deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar on Friday chaired a meeting in Pune, her first visit to the district after taking charge, of the newly elected members of zilla parishad and panchayat samiti to discuss among other things the merger plans of the two NCP factions.NCP members from Junnar tehsil told Sunetra, also Pune guardian minister, that both camps would continue to work together, after their alliance won the zilla parishad (ZP) and panchayat samiti elections held on Feb 7.
Former MLA Atul Benke said he lost the 2024 assembly poll because the votes were divided between the two NCPs. “But for the Pune ZP and panchayat samiti elections I worked very closely with NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe and we got positive results. During the meeting with Sunetra vahini, we told her that both sides would continue to work together in future. I have no idea about the merger of both factions, but as far as Junnar tehsil is concerned, both sides have already come together,” NCP member Benke, who attended the meeting, told the media.Other NCP members, who attended the meeting, said late deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s vision for Pune district was also discussed. “The elected members remembered Ajit Pawar and his plans for the district. Sunetra vahini assured that she would support them like the late NCP chief did. She also took an overview of the issues to be addressed in Pune district and promised to resolve them after discussing with the district administration,” one of the ZP members said.
