Supriya Sule, Baramati: Leaders join BJP over ICE

Supriya Sule talks to NDTV about campaigning for Lok Sabha polls

Baramati:

Three-time MP Supriya Sule today told New Delhi TV that opposition leaders will not join the BJP because they like its ideology but because of “ICE – Income Tax, CBI and ED”. Ms Sule, the daughter of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, has represented the Baramati assembly constituency since 2009 and will contest from the constituency again. The constituency is a family stronghold and was earlier represented by Mr Pawar from 1996 to 2009.

This election, however, is different. Between the last election and this one, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar has split – one faction is led by the octogenarian and the other is led by his nephew Ajit Pawar, ·Pawar aligned himself with the BJP and the Shiv Sena and joined the Maharashtra government. Ms. Sule will now contest as the candidate of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), the faction led by the veteran.

It is reported that this Baramati battle may be a Pawar vs. Pawar contest. Ajit Pawar’s wife and environmental activist Sunetra Pawar is likely to contest from her sister-in-law Supriya for the key seat.

When asked about this, Ms Soule responded: “I don’t know who is running against me because it hasn’t been officially announced yet. As soon as it happens, I will tell you.”

When asked about the poll prospects of the Indian alliance, especially after the arrest of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and the split in the opposition party, she said: “Democracy is being murdered. Those who are joining the BJP are not doing it out of love And this was done. They did it because of ICE – Income Tax (Department), CBI and ED. The BJP started a storm against Ashok Chavan. Now they have taken him in. This is how they destroyed the party. This is not politics, this is murder. democracy.”

Mr Chavan, a former Maharashtra chief minister who resigned amid corruption allegations, quit the Congress last month and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Talking about why she was confident Baramati would win again, Ms Sule said: “My work is in front of everyone and so is my performance in Parliament. And there are no corruption allegations against me.”