It's Sule all the way

The Nationalist Congress Party's extended national executive committee meeting and national convention declared in unambiguous terms, who is going to be the party boss and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's heir apparent.

From among party's 15 MPs, it was only Supriya Sule, Pawar's 38-year-old daughter and newly elected Rajya Sabha MP, who was chosen to have an interaction with the national and local media which had turned up in large numbers at the NCP's convention here.

And Sule, with her suave manners, cool and composed stature and witty replies, didn't fail to impress the media. She told the reporters that apart from her father, former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar was her role model.

"Chandrashekhar is a man who always has his ears to the ground and is a plain-speaking guy who never compromised with his principles," she added.

She also said: "I would like to be remembered as a social activist who made some contribution to the field of education, women empowerment, healthcare and welfare of the physically challenged, rather than Sharad Pawar's daughter."

Sule was also forthcoming in admitting that immediately after joining the party she got a chance to become an MP because she was Pawar's daughter.

"But being the son or daughter of a successful politician can be a double edged sword as people have high expectations from you and you are always compared with your dad or mom," she added.

Pawar's nephew and Maharashtra's Irrigation Minister Ajit Pawar, who was considered to be Pawar's heir before Sule entered the party, kept a low profile throughout the convention. He was hardly seen on the dais and was conspicuous by his absence from the convention venue, most of the day.

Party insiders claim situation like in the Shiv Sena will not arise in the NCP as Pawar senior has demarcated the areas of operation for Supriya and Ajit. Supriya will be party's mascot in Delhi, whereas Ajit will continue to look after the state unit.

However, Supriya was among the few delegates from Maharashtra who were given the opportunity to address the national convention, during which she called upon political parties including the NCP to work in the field of education, women empowerment and healthcare.

Endorsing Supriya's programme, Pawar, in his concluding speech, said, "Taking initiative to provide educational facilities to the deprived sections of society, forming self-help groups to provide sustainable employment to women and overall programmes of women empowerment is a right way to spread NCP to the grassroots level in all parts of the country."

All these were clear indications as to whom Papa Pawar wants to hand over his legacy.