Rohit Pawar opposes NCP merger and joining power; party split into four views

Talk of a merger of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions is gaining momentum. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has split into four views. Senior leaders of the party favour a merger and want the party to join the government. According to available information, most of the party's MLAs are also with these senior leaders.

Some MLAs say the party should join the NDA as a group or a party, without merging into the NCP. On the other hand, leaders such as Rohit Pawar and Rohit Patil are against both a merger and joining the government. It has been said that Rohit Pawar has opposed the decision to join the government and to merge from the beginning.

Two days ago, an important meeting of party leaders was held at Silver Oak, Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai. Jitendra Awhad, Jayant Patil, Shashikant Shinde and Supriya Sule were present. The merger was discussed at the meeting. Rohit Pawar had also come to the meeting, but left as soon as he learnt that it was about the merger.

Rohit Pawar is said to be still holding to his position. Political circles are therefore speculating about what he will do if Supriya Sule and other prominent leaders decide on a merger. So far, only Rohit Patil, son of R. R. Aba, has backed Rohit Pawar's stand of opposing the merger and not going with the BJP. Even so, it has been said that Rohit Pawar is ready to show flexibility and go along with whatever role the party leadership finally decides.

Working President Supriya Sule has so far taken no firm position on this. She has not conveyed her decision even to the MLAs. Political circles are therefore waiting to see what Supriya Sule decides and says.

Notably, Sharad Pawar is staying completely apart from this talk and discussion on a merger of the two NCP factions. In keeping with the role he took on joining the NDA or merging during the merger talks in Ajit Pawar's time, he will not himself be active in this process of joining the NDA or merging. The talks will therefore be held by the other prominent leaders of both factions.