Pune: NCP (SP) politician Rohit Pawar on Sunday said he was confident that their eight MPs would be present in Parliament and vote against the proposed delimitation bill, even as he said he was waiting to see how the situation actually unfolded amid reports that his party may stand in support.Speaking to reporters in Pune, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA said several developments were expected before Aug 17 and it would be important to watch the tilt political parties would take — support the bill, oppose it or remain absent during voting.On the scheduled meeting of NCP (SP) MPs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, Rohit said the party leadership had told him that issues concerning farmers in Maharashtra would be under discussion. “The MPs can meet the PM and get their pending works done for now. Ultimately, what matters is their stand on the day of voting. I am also waiting to see what happens and keeping a close watch on the developments just as other people in India,” he said.PM Modi has met several MPs over the last week, but they have either been from the NDA or have defected recently from opposition parties, like TMC and AAP. The PM meeting NCP (SP) MPs is significant as they are from an opposition party.Last month, Rohit Pawar had openly opposed the delimitation bill on a social media post. However, NCP (SP) national working president and MP Supriya Sule had hinted that the party could support the bill, if the govt assured a 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats for every state. Rohit had cited the examples of Assam and West Bengal in his post. He had said that critics allege delimitation disproportionately affected constituencies with non-BJP and Muslim voters, thus benefiting the BJP.Pawar said the delimitation exercise could allow the govt to redraw constituencies in a manner similar to municipal wards, something he said could “endanger democracy in India.” BJP has been working on the issue since 2016 and has hired several officials previously involved in the process, he added.The developments were significant amid reports that Sharad Pawar’s NCP was exploring a merger with NCP or could join NDA. Rohit had earlier said he would take a different course, if his party decided to align with BJP or join NDA.Meanwhile, on Saturday, Sule said the meeting between the MPs and the PM was focused on issues concerning water crisis, farmers’ suicide and other problems of Maharashtra, but opposition parties and NCP (SP) allies have reacted on the matter.Congress leader Sachin Sawant posted on X: “We urge them (MPs) to firmly convey to Prime Minister Modi that the INDI alliance’s unequivocal position is that the Women’s Reservation Act, passed in 2023, be implemented immediately and not be linked to delimitation. It is important that the unity of the INDI alliance and its opposition to the Modi govt on the issue is made clear.”Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, “I spoke to Sule in detail about the matter. PM Modi is not meeting MPs or attending sessions, due to which several issues concerning Maharashtra have remained pending. The NCP (SP) MPs have compiled all the problems to be discussed with the PM. Nobody is going anywhere and nobody is quitting the MVA, of which NCP (SP) is an important part. Sharad Pawar is our mentor.”
