Pune: Workers of the Pune unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), on Monday, passed a resolution demanding that party chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar be sent to the Rajya Sabha and be made a minister in the Union government.

A letter written by NCP Pune unit chief Deepak Mankar detailing these demands has been sent to Ajit Pawar, party functionaries said here.

The party, founded by opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar, celebrated its 25th anniversary during the day.

"Sunetra Pawar should be sent to Rajya Sabha and must be given a state cabinet portfolio (MoS) to give strength to the party and the officer bearers," the letter written by Mankar said.

The NCP had refused to take the offer of minister of state with independent charge in the Narendra Modi government on Sunday after reiterating that its Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel must be made cabinet minister.

Sunetra Pawar had lost from Baramati Lok Sabha seat to sitting MP Supriya Sule in the recent general elections.

The NCP split in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government. The party name and symbol were allotted to the faction led by him. Sharad Pawar now heads the group which has been christened NCP(SP).

Not Surprised Ajit Pawar-led NCP Didn't Get Berth in Modi's New Cabinet: Sule

Sule, earlier in the day, said she was not surprised that the Ajit Pawar-led NCP did not get a berth in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new cabinet.

Speaking to reporters here on the 25th foundation day of the NCP, founded by her father, the Baramati MP said as the NDA holds its first cabinet meeting, it should grant full loan waiver for farmers.

"During the UPA regime, the NCP worked as an ally in the Manmohan Singh government. Manmohan ji showed trust and love towards Pawar saheb, and he got two and a half cabinet berths although the party had only eight or nine MPs at the time," she said.

The Congress did not think about numbers and respected the party as its ally, she said.

"In the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government also, everyone treated each other with respect. We did not stick to any formula. Our relationship was based on mutual respect and merit," Sule said.

The MP said she was not surprised that the NCP did not get a cabinet berth.

"I have observed from close quarters how they (BJP) treated their allies in the last 10 years. Their approach is not of 'one size fits all' (equal treatment)," she said.

On Sunday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said the NCP wanted a cabinet berth in the Modi government and had declined the BJP's offer of minister of state (MoS) with independent charge.

Ajit Pawar has asserted that the NCP "was ready to wait" but wanted a cabinet berth.

The NCP, part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra along with the BJP and the Shiv Sena, performed poorly in the Lok Sabha polls and won just one seat (Raigad) from the four it contested.

It also lost the prestige battle in Baramati, where Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, was trounced by sitting MP Sule.

Asked about the NDA's first cabinet meeting, Sule said the government should grant full loan waiver for farmers.

"I hope they give this country a stable government. I expect a decision on loan waiver and commodities like onion and milk prices as farmers are under tremendous pressure," she said

(with PTI inputs)