NCP merger talks on hold as Sharad Pawar prioritises family unity after Ajit Pawar death

The veteran politician also hit back at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for suggesting that late Ajit had not initiated merger talks with NCP-SP. “Fadnavis was not part of merger discussions between the two NCP factions and therefore had no right to comment on them,” Sharad told reporters in Baramati.

Sharad said he skipped the Union Budget as he was busy tackling various issues concerning the party and the family. Amid contrasting claims over a possible merger between the NCP factions following the death of Ajit, the intense political debate over the ‘internal discussion’ is turning into a fresh flashpoint between Fadnavis and Sharad.

Hours before Ajit’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, was sworn in as the deputy CM on January 31, Sharad had said the (merger) talks appeared to have hit a roadblock. The veteran politician had said he was not aware of the oath-taking ceremony.

Asked if the merger will take place now, Sharad on Wednesday evaded a direct reply, saying that currently their priority is to support each other and then decide how to go ahead. “As far as political discussions are concerned, we are not talking to anyone,” he told reporters in Baramati.

Matter of happiness

To a question on the appointment of Sunetra as deputy CM after her husband’s sudden death, the senior Pawar said it is a matter of happiness and satisfaction that she got the opportunity.

Earlier in the day, a closed-door meeting was held between Sharad and the sons of the late Ajit Pawar, Parth and Jay, on the premises of Vidya Pratishtan, an educational institute, in Baramati. It lasted about one and a half hours, said sources.

There was no immediate official word on the agenda of the meeting. The discussions might have centred on the possible merger of the two NCP factions and the upcoming Zila Parishad elections, the sources said. 

The patriarch later visited Sunetra’s home to pay tribute to the late Ajit. Sharad visited Sahyog Society in the town, where a condolence meeting had been scheduled. He reiterated that Ajit and NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil had been leading the merger talks.

Leadership issues

A day after senior leader Praful Patel ruled himself out of the race for NCP’s national president, party MLA Pratap Chikhalikar said Sunetra should become the party chief. “We all have requested that she lead the NCP,” he said. The Opposition has been targeting Patel, accusing him of harbouring ambition of heading the NCP. 

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday accused NCP working president Praful Patel of being closer to the BJP than his own party and said he must do whatever is acceptable only to Maharashtra and the Marathi manoos.

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