India

Sunetra Pawar Says NCP Merger Will Clarify Over Time

By Poorva Joshi

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunetra Pawar said on Wednesday that any speculation about a merger with the NCP would become clear in due course. The remarks were made during a press conference where she announced programmes for the 191st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda on November 15. When a reporter asked about the merger speculation, Pawar replied, “I know you people are more interested in the other issue (merger speculation). However, I would like to tell you that things will become clear with time.”

Pawar’s comments come after her son, MP Parth Pawar, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at his Mumbai residence. The meeting was described by the parties as a discussion about Sharad Pawar’s health, with no political matters raised. Senior NCP leaders also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, but Pawar and her son were not part of that meeting.

Speculation about a reunification of the NCP factions has been circulating for some time. Last week, senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said that late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had supported a merger and that discussions had taken place. Tatkare claimed that Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28 halted the talks. He added that the merger could have been completed on February 12 had Pawar been alive.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that only Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar could confirm whether their parties would merge. “If they decide to merge, they will come and tell us, because the merger cannot happen without us. Neither of them has told us anything yet,” he said.

Sunetra Pawar, who assumed the deputy chief minister role after her husband’s death, leads an NCP faction that is part of the ruling coalition with Eknath Shinde‑led Shiv Sena and the BJP.