‘Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that’: Sharad Pawar makes big NCP merger revelation | India News

File photo: Sharad Pawar (Picture credit: PTI)

NEW DELHI: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday made a significant revelation about the future of the Nationalist Congress Party, saying that talks to merge the two rival NCP factions were already underway and had progressed to an advanced stage before the sudden death of his nephew and party chief Ajit Pawar. Speaking at a press conference, Sharad Pawar said the proposed merger was not only under discussion but was also in line with Ajit Pawar’s own wishes.However, he added that talks between the two NCP factions were already underway before the tragedy and claimed that it was his late nephew’s desire to unite both factions. “Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled. Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated the talks about the merger of the two factions. Even the merger date had been fixed — it was scheduled on the 12th (February). Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that,” Sharad Pawar said.This disclosure comes amid intense political activity in Maharashtra following Ajit Pawar’s death and reports that his wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, is likely to be sworn in as deputy chief minister. Sharad Pawar, however, maintained that he had no prior information about her possible elevation, underlining that key decisions were being taken by leaders in Mumbai and not in consultation with him.

‘Family stands united, no issue’

When asked whether he, as a senior member of the Pawar family, was taken into confidence regarding Sunetra Pawar’s possible appointment as deputy chief minister, Sharad Pawar sought to downplay any suggestion of discord. “Family stands united if an issue occurs in the family. There are no issues in the family,” he said.His remarks come amid heightened political churn in Maharashtra following the death of NCP chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, with rapid developments triggering speculation about leadership changes, a possible merger of rival NCP factions, and the future course of alliances.

‘Decisions happening in Mumbai, not here’

Sharad Pawar made it clear that discussions on political and organisational decisions were taking place away from him. Responding to questions on the apparent haste in decision-making after Ajit Pawar’s death, he said, “All these discussions are not taking place here; they are happening in Mumbai. Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and other senior leaders are having these discussions. Whatever is being seen appears to be decisions taken by them. I will not comment on this.”