NCP merger talks: Sunetra Pawar says 'things will be known when the time comes'

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party NCP president Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday declined to comment directly on the possibility of a merger between the two NCP factions saying details would emerge at the appropriate timeSpeculation over a possible reunification of the factions led by Sunetra Pawar and Sharad Pawar intensified last week after several leaders of the NCP including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar met Sharad Pawar who was recently hospitalised with a chest infectionA video that went viral on social media showed Sharad Pawar and Patel discussing a possible meeting after November 10 NCP state president Sunil Tatkare had also claimed that the merger of the two factions would have taken place in February this year if Ajit Pawar had been aliveSunetra Pawar avoids direct response on mergerAsked about the possibility of the two factions coming together Sunetra Pawar said the matter would become clear in due courseI know all of you are more interested in a different issue at present However todays subject is entirely different Things about the merger will be known when the time comes she told reporters in BaramatiShe was speaking at a press conference organised to announce programmes marking the 191st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda on November 15Merger speculation follows meetings with Sharad PawarThe merger discussion has gained momentum following meetings between leaders of the two NCP factions Among those who met Sharad Pawar last week were Praful Patel and Parth Pawar prompting speculation about renewed efforts to bring the two groups togetherThe video showing Sharad Pawar and Patel discussing a possible meeting after November 10 further fuelled the speculationTatkare had earlier said that the merger would have taken place in February if Ajit Pawar had been aliveAjit Pawar who was then Maharashtras Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president died in an air crash on January 28 Sunetra Pawar subsequently took over as the NCP president and became Deputy Chief Minister in the Mahayuti government which comprises the BJP the NCP and Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaMaharashtra to observe Birsa Munda birth anniversaryApart from addressing questions about the merger Sunetra Pawar announced programmes to mark Birsa Mundas birth anniversary on November 15The Maharashtra government will observe the occasion as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and organise a service week across the state from November 11 to 18 she saidIn Pune district the Integrated Tribal Development Project office at Ghodegaon will organise several activities including the distribution of cheques to beneficiaries of government schemes cleanliness drives at memorials a wild vegetable festival cultural programmes tribal gatherings and health and nutrition awareness campsService week programmes planned in BeedSunetra Pawar who is also the guardian minister of Beed district said similar programmes would be organised there from November 11 to 18The activities will include health camps cleanliness drives and awareness programmes Special celebrations will also be held at Kuppa and Khalwat Nimgaon in Wadwani tehsil on November 15 she saidWith inputs from PTI