Gogawale says NCP merger is the two factions' internal matter, Shinde Sena has nothing to say

The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has given its first reaction to talk of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions. Shinde faction leader Bharat Gogawale said whether the two NCP factions come together is their internal matter.

Gogawale said, "Whether the two NCP factions want to come together or not is their internal decision. Sharad Pawar, Sunetra Pawar and the senior leaders should take the decision on unification. What happened while Ajitdada was there, only they know; we will not say anything on that. We have nothing to say on the unification of the NCP. The final decision should be taken by the seniors."

Political activity in the state has picked up over the past few days. A few days ago, a delegation of the NCP Ajit Pawar faction met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The delegation included senior NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Dhananjay Munde, along with some other leaders. Reports at the time said these leaders had expressed displeasure over the party leadership before Shah.

Afterwards, NCP Sharad Pawar faction president Sharad Pawar was admitted to hospital. Praful Patel of the Ajit Pawar faction met him and enquired about his health.

Following Patel's meeting with Sharad Pawar, talk of a merger of the two NCP factions has been revived. Meanwhile, Sunil Tatkare, state president of the Ajit Pawar faction, made a major disclosure. Tatkare said that had Ajit Pawar been alive, the merger would have happened on February 12.

Speaking on the merger, Tatkare also said there is currently no talk of a merger of the two NCP factions. But according to him, had Ajit Pawar been there, the merger would have taken place on February 12. Gogawale's reaction, the first from the Shiv Sena Shinde faction, came in response to this statement by Tatkare.