KOLHAPUR: NCP chief Sharad Pawar faced a major embarrassment on Friday after two factions of his party clashed, forcing him to end his speech and leave the venue at Phaltan in Satara district.The police had to be called in even as senior party leaders helplessly watched the two warring factions owing allegiance to Shekhar Gore and Kavita Mhetre, both aspirants for the assembly elections from Maan, shouting slogans and engaging in altercations. Pawar took over the microphone, but the workers continued with their sloganeering, forcing Pawar to stop.Pawar had called a meeting of party workers in Phaltan, which is part of the Madha Lok Sabha constituency from where he intends to contends the forthcoming elections. In fact, the NCP chief’s decision to contest from Madha has been largely attributed to the sharp factionalism in Satara and Solapur districts. Phaltan and Maan are the two assembly segments in Satara district which come under the Madha LS constituency while four other segments are in Solapur district.Mhetre was sitting on the dais while Gore, a staunch opponent of senior party leader Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, was among the audience with his supporters. Gore’s supporters started raising slogans when Mhetre started her speech. Mhetre was forced to finish speaking and Pawar decided to take over the microphone. However, his attempts to pacify the workers failed and he too ended his speech and left the venue.On Thursday, Pawar virtually launched his election campaign at a low-profile function at Pimpalner village near Tembhurni in Solapur district. Senior NCP leaders including Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, Dilip Sopal, Babanrao Shinde and Ranjit Mohite-Patil were present.

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