'No rift in party': NCP rejects challenge to Sunetra Pawar's election as chief

NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare on Tuesday dismissed a notice issued by the party's national secretary Sachchidanand questioning the election of Sunetra Pawar as the party's national president, while asserting that there was no rift within the organisation.The leaders said the election was held in accordance with the party constitution and that the notice carried no legal or organisational significance.The controversy comes after Sachchidanand, through a Delhi-based law firm, issued a notice on July 9 alleging that Sunetra Pawar's election as NCP president on February 26 was unconstitutional and should be declared null and void.Reacting to the notice, Praful Patel told PTI, "There is no rift in the party. All senior party leaders meet with Sunetra Pawar to discuss political issues. The letter written by Sachchidanand carries no weight.