<p>Pune: NCP (SP) chief <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/sharad-pawar">Sharad Pawar</a> on Tuesday said they never thought the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nationalist-congress-party">Nationalist Congress Party</a>, co-founded by him 26 years ago, would suffer a split and appreciated workers of his outfit for taking it ahead despite challenges.</p>.<p>Pawar was speaking here at an event marking the 26th foundation day of the NCP, which split in 2023.</p>.<p>"...the party faced some challenges, but you, without getting discouraged, continue to take the party ahead. A split took place in the party. We never thought that a split would take place in the party but it happened," he said.</p>.Sharad and Ajit Pawar share dais at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Maharashtra.<p>"Some people went with other ideologies and this split widened. I do not want to talk about it today. But those who remained loyal to the party, it was because of our party's ideology," Pawar said.</p>.<p>A different picture will prevail in the coming elections, he added.</p>.<p>The NCP split happened in July 2023 after Sharad Pawar's nephew <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ajit-pawar">Ajit Pawar</a> joined the then Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government.</p>.<p>The party name and its clock symbol was given to the Ajit Pawar faction, while the one headed by the former Union agriculture minister was christened NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).</p>
<p>Pune: NCP (SP) chief <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/sharad-pawar">Sharad Pawar</a> on Tuesday said they never thought the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/nationalist-congress-party">Nationalist Congress Party</a>, co-founded by him 26 years ago, would suffer a split and appreciated workers of his outfit for taking it ahead despite challenges.</p>.<p>Pawar was speaking here at an event marking the 26th foundation day of the NCP, which split in 2023.</p>.<p>"...the party faced some challenges, but you, without getting discouraged, continue to take the party ahead. A split took place in the party. We never thought that a split would take place in the party but it happened," he said.</p>.Sharad and Ajit Pawar share dais at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Maharashtra.<p>"Some people went with other ideologies and this split widened. I do not want to talk about it today. But those who remained loyal to the party, it was because of our party's ideology," Pawar said.</p>.<p>A different picture will prevail in the coming elections, he added.</p>.<p>The NCP split happened in July 2023 after Sharad Pawar's nephew <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ajit-pawar">Ajit Pawar</a> joined the then Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government.</p>.<p>The party name and its clock symbol was given to the Ajit Pawar faction, while the one headed by the former Union agriculture minister was christened NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).</p>