After trading charges, NCP's Malik and Patil bury the hatchet

Senior NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Sanjay Dina Patil, who had accused each other of violence during a party event last month, "resolved" their differences at a meeting called here today on the directions of party chief Sharad Pawar.

"State unit president Sunil Tatkare called both the feuding leaders to the party office this morning where they resolved their differences and pledged to work together for the party's success in the civic polls due early next year," a statement issued by the NCP said.

Mumbai unit NCP president Sachin Ahir was also present at the meeting.

Malik, the NCP spokesman and former MLA from Anushakti Nagar, had alleged that Patil, a former MP, resorted to firing at the event and he was "injured" in the attack by the latter's sword-wielding supporters. He had also claimed that Patil's bodyguards fired two rounds to scare him.
 

However, Patil, president of NCPs North East Mumbai district unit, rejected Malik's allegation and claimed that it was he who was attacked with swords when he was coming to attend the meeting held in a hall in Deonar in Eastern Mumbai last month.

However, police had denied that the firing took place.

Tatkare had described the incident as serious and assured action after speaking to both the leaders.

When contacted today, Tatkare told PTI he had called both the leaders for a meeting on instructions of Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel.

"Praful bhai as the head of the disciplinary committee had issued showcause notices to them (Patil and Malik) and sought their statement on the incident.

"I, as the state unit chief, called them for a meeting to resolve their differences in the interest of the party," he said.

According to sources, Malik and Patil have been in a turf war as both of them belonged to the same district and Patil had announced block presidents without consulting Malik and other leaders.

Earlier, police had arrested seven persons in connection with the clash, and registered an offence against Malik and Patil.

The episode caused a major embarrassment to the party at a time when it is bracing itself for the local municipal bodies elections and especially for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (NMC) polls due next year.