Congress's Atul Londhe says Ajit Pawar was set to quit Mahayuti as NCP merger talk grows

Talk of the two Nationalist parties in the state coming together is gaining pace, and leaders of the two factions have begun speaking to each other. The question being asked is whether, if the two parties unite, they will join the INDIA bloc or the Mahayuti.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Atul Londhe said Ajit Pawar was about to leave the Mahayuti. His statement is now being widely discussed.

Talk of a merger of the two Nationalist parties has picked up in the past few days. According to sources, the discussion began after a meeting between Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar. Merger talks were also going on while Ajit Pawar was alive. Sources said the remaining issues are stuck on how everything would be run after a merger. According to sources, senior leaders of Sunetra Pawar's Nationalist party are pressing for the merger.

During this period, MP Sunil Tatkare met Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, and the two leaders spoke for an hour and a half. Tatkare then also met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which intensified the talk in political circles. Sunetra Pawar said that as the time comes, you will come to know everything. Her remark has fuelled the merger speculation further.

Leaders of both Nationalist parties are currently making statements that are creating confusion. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar's hint-laden remark has deepened the suspense.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut of the Thackeray faction has claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs of Sunetra Pawar's Nationalist party are preparing to leave the party. BJP leader Navnath Ban reacted to Raut's claim. Ban asked why Raut had not foreseen it when 40 MLAs of his own party walked out under Eknath Shinde.