Rohit Pawar asks why Tatkare and Patel denied merger talks after Ajit Pawar's death

Mumbai: Praful Patel met senior leader Sharad Pawar to enquire about his health, and talk of a merger of the two Nationalist parties has started once again. Amid this, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said that talks on merging the two parties were under way while Ajit Pawar was alive, and that had he been here today, the two parties would have been seen together.

Tatkare claimed that the talks were in their final stage while Ajit Pawar was alive. According to him, had Dada been among us today, the two Nationalist parties would have appeared together on the auspicious date of February 12. NCP Sharad Pawar faction MLA Rohit Pawar has responded to this claim.

Rohit Pawar questioned the changed stand of Tatkare and Patel. He said, "We had been saying from the start that the two parties were to merge while Ajit Pawar was alive. But immediately after Dada's unfortunate death, Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel flatly denied it before the media. They said there had been no discussion on a merger and that Dada had nothing of the sort in mind."

Rohit Pawar went on to ask, "What has suddenly happened now that they again accept that merger talks took place? Why did they hide this truth and lie after Dada's death?" He put this direct question to Tatkare and Patel.

Rohit Pawar also commented on the present position of Tatkare and Patel. In his words, "It is likely that Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel have landed in serious trouble in the inner circles of Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party at this time. It is doubtful how much their word counts in the party now. Having run into difficulty in their own party, they may have changed their political stand."

Rohit Pawar also clarified his stand on the talk of joining the BJP and power. He said, "We know Pawar Saheb very closely. Today, because of the BJP's policies, the country's youth, women and farmers are in distress and the Constitution is in danger. We are continuously fighting against the BJP's unjust policies. So the question of going with those in power or cooperating with the BJP does not arise, and Pawar Saheb will not take any such decision."

Thus, on one side Tatkare claims that a merger was close to being settled while Dada was alive. On the other, Rohit Pawar says that after the death Tatkare and Patel themselves denied these talks, and that they should explain why they are now changing their stand.