Supriya Sule, the daughter of veteran political leader Sharad Pawar, took allegations of nepotism head on today after being chosen as one of the two working president of her father’s Nationalist Congress Party.
“Which party does not have nepotism? You cannot selectively use nepotism,” she told reporters when asked about the matter.
“Why can’t we talk about performance when we talk about nepotism? Look at my parliamentary data. Parliament is not run by my father or uncle or my mother. Lok Sabha data shows I’m top of the chart. There is no nepotism. That’s merit,” she added.
Ms Sule was named one of the two working presidents of the party this weekend by Mr Pawar, who had announced his intention to step down last month but desisted after dramatic requests from party supporters.
Mr Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar, who has never made a secret of his ambition and shows a rebellious streak from time to time, said he was “not unhappy” with the decision.
Asked why his nephew was not given the top job, Mr Pawar had said that he already has his hands full.
Ajit Pawar is the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly.