Sunetra Pawar holds nearly two-hour talks with Fadnavis at Varsha as NCP merger buzz grows

Deputy Chief Minister and NCP national leader Sunetra Pawar called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his Varsha residence in Mumbai, and the two leaders were closeted together for close to two hours. The meeting came while speculation about a merger of the two Nationalist Congress parties is running high. No official word has come out on what exactly was discussed.

Sources said Pawar reached Varsha at about 11 am and that the conversation went on for roughly an hour and three-quarters. The first subject, they said, was Mahagenco. Since that concerns the energy department, several suggestions were exchanged on it. The merger question is believed to have been taken up after that.

According to these accounts, Fadnavis tried to gauge which NCP would end up folding into which. Leaders from the Sunetra Pawar camp are reported to be in contact with leaders of Sharad Pawar's party. Between 22 and 26 MLAs are said to be talking to the Sharad Pawar faction. The Mahayuti is believed to view that number with worry, and Fadnavis is said to have probed the matter, learnt where each MLA stands and offered some suggestions of his own.

The merger has been discussed for about 15 days. Leaders of the Ajitdada faction have repeatedly spoken about it, and it has drawn notice that people from a party in power are raising the subject at all. Fadnavis had earlier remarked that no merger would go ahead without his side being consulted, which was read as a pointer towards a merger. Sunil Tatkare and a few other leaders have made differing claims, and one report holds that the date of the merger was settled at a meeting with Ajit Dada.

Tatkare met Fadnavis two days before this meeting. At a press conference yesterday he said that if Ajitdada were alive, the merger would have happened on February 12, but that nothing on a merger is being discussed now. He added, "I know what to say and where, so I will say the right things at the right time." His reply left matters unclear, and the talk has continued.

Supriya Sule of the Sharad Pawar faction addressed the press today and denied that any merger discussion is on. She said her side has received no proposal from the other camp and has held no talks either. Sule said she would not comment on the subject again, since for her the issue is closed.

She added that although she and Praful Patel both turn up for Parliament sessions, it should not be taken to mean that the merger was raised there. She said the two did not meet yesterday and described all the reports as baseless.