Fadnavis: Sharad Pawar, Sunetra Pawar have not told BJP of any NCP merger

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that only Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar can say whether the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions will merge. He said neither of them has informed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of any such move.

Fadnavis was speaking to reporters at a Diwali Milan event at Varsha, his official residence in Mumbai. He said the NCP is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, so the BJP would have to be taken into confidence on any merger. In his words: "If they (Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar) decide to merge, they will come and tell us, because a merger cannot happen without us. So far, neither of them has told us anything."

Last week, several leaders of the NCP led by Sunetra Pawar, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. Sharad Pawar had recently been admitted to hospital with a chest infection. Talk of a merger has intensified since then.

The chief minister also said it would not be right to compare Sunetra Pawar's leadership with that of her late husband Ajit Pawar. He described Ajit Pawar as an experienced leader with a deep understanding of Maharashtra and its politics. Fadnavis said, "Ajit Dada was a leader tested by time. He understood Maharashtra very well and knew the state deeply. Sunetra Pawar is now adapting herself to the circumstances. It would not be right to compare her with Ajit Dada." He added that the party's other senior leaders are handling the party together.

Ajit Pawar was Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president. He died in a plane crash on January 28. Sunetra Pawar then became NCP president and also Deputy Chief Minister in the Mahayuti government, which comprises the BJP and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

On the drought situation, Fadnavis said the government has already given advance assistance and the final relief package will be announced soon. He said, "We have given advance assistance. We will announce the final assistance for farmers soon." Last month, the state government had announced an advance of Rs 5,000 per farmer for eligible farmers in drought-hit areas before Diwali.

According to the chief minister, detailed planning is under way to ensure full arrangements for drinking water and fodder in drought-affected areas. This includes mapping water sources at village level and arranging fodder for livestock.

Fadnavis said farmers in orange-growing areas had raised concerns over restrictions on borewells. The farmers said their existing trees could die without water, and that a new orange orchard takes about eight years to bear fruit. The chief minister said he has accepted the demand to permit some borewell-related work until December 15, and that measures to increase groundwater recharge will also be taken.

On water tankers, he said the government will hire private vehicles when needed rather than maintain a large fleet year-round. GPS tracking has been introduced to monitor tanker movement and prevent irregularities.

On river-linking projects, Fadnavis expressed confidence that the ongoing projects will, in the long run, free Maharashtra from recurring drought. He said, "Once these river-linking projects are completed, there will be no drought. It will take seven to eight years, but when they are done, Maharashtra will be drought-free." He referred to diverting surplus flood water from western Maharashtra, taking water to the Godavari basin, and the Wainganga-Nalganga river link.

On Pune's water use, Fadnavis said that by the set norms the city needs about 11 TMC of water a year but is using about 16 TMC. He said such high consumption could point to leakage or illegal use. If needed, the government will not refuse Pune more water, but the city must fix its consumption, he said.

On pollution from construction work in Mumbai, he said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been directed to implement a standard procedure to reduce dust and air pollution. He also said the tunnel projects under way in the city will ease traffic pressure once complete, and are expected to be finished in the next three to four years.

On the shootings and threats linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Fadnavis defended the Mumbai Police. He called the police highly professional and said the accused have been caught in many such cases. In his words: "Mumbai Police is so professional that after a shooting it identifies the accused, tracks him down and arrests him even after he gets off a train. Only Mumbai Police can do this." He also dismissed concern over the gang's activities, saying such incidents are mostly meant to frighten people.

According to Mumbai Police, two men fired at actor Tiger Shroff's car last month at the behest of a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police said 13 people have been arrested in the case so far.