Attacking Fadnavis government's performance ahead of civic polls, NCP leader Supriya Sule has called BJP "juvenile" and "immature" for suggesting that her newfound aggressiveness is the result of a proxy war within her party and asserted that her father Sharad Pawar's political heir "does not require to be a blood relation".
In an interview to PTI, 47-year-old Sule described Congress as a natural ally of her party but dismissed as "hypothetical" queries on possible merger.
Slamming the performance of BJP-led government, Sule, Lok Sabha member from Baramati, said "the Fadnavis government has failed to deliver on its promises".
"The Maharashtra government is very good at advertising and the credit goes to the agency which has made beautiful ads but these are far away from reality," she said.
She charged that the government had "mishandled" most vital issues and situations including the farmers' plight.
"Remunerative prices given (to farmers) are the lowest ever, teachers are not happy. A morcha by teachers unions was mishandled and they were lathi-charged. Women's security is a big challenge, admissions have been a fiasco. There is mishandling of various situations," she said.
Sule, who was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2006 and later twice to Lok Sabha, has made concerted efforts to reach out to youth and women in the state in the last two years.
The NCP leader said she has often said she is interested in national politics because she contests the national elections.
"My role is to work for the party, state and the country at the Delhi level... Just because I am an MP, I will not say I will not campaign for the municipal council elections. I will abide by whatever responsibility the party gives me," she said.
Asked about her father Sharad Pawar's political heir, she said it is for the people to decide as "public life does not come by genes" and recalled that late YB Chavan, considered as Pawar's mentor, was not related by family ties.
"Public will decide who my father's political heir is. Political life does not come by inheritance. Anyone in our party could be his heir... One who is as capable as him... does not require to be a blood relation...One who can carry on the party, his values, contributions and dreams. Public life does not come by genes," she said.
BJP had recently lashed out at Sule for targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Taking a jibe at the MP, who has had a limited role in state politics which has been dominated by Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar, BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari had said, "Sule's criticism is a result of a proxy war within the NCP.
"Instead of attacking Fadnavis, she should directly take on rivals within her own party in a bid to take over the NCP," he said.
But she dismissed the criticism.
"Am I wrong in demanding fair remunerative prices for farmers. Am I wrong in demanding quick chargesheet in the Kopardi gangrape case, a commitment which the government did not follow. Did I commit any mistake by demanding security and rights of teachers, women?
"If raising these issues is wrong, please tell me what is right. I owe it to the people who have elected me and given me a voice," Sule retorted.
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