Talk of merging the two NCP parties revives, all eyes on Sharad Pawar's decision

Talk of a merger of the two Nationalist parties has begun once again. There is strong speculation that the state's politics is about to change course. The merger card has been played again from both sides, and in the middle of Diwali a round of allegations, counter-allegations and claims and counter-claims has started.

When senior leader Sharad Pawar's health deteriorated, he was admitted for treatment first to Ruby Hospital in Pune and then to Breach Candy Hospital. Around the same time Praful Patel met him, and the merger talk gathered pace. It is also being said that the BJP has set the field to bring the two parties together.

During his treatment at Ruby Hospital in Pune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Sharad Pawar. He said that Pawar should take care of his health, and that Supriya didi and he would look after the country. Talk has begun in political circles that this remark is a pointer. Earlier, a delegation from the Ajit Pawar camp had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. All this is believed to be part of a single political chain. Political analysts claim that the BJP is making a move to strengthen regional parties in order to put a brake on the Congress's aggressive stance.

The arithmetic of numbers for the winter session is also being cited. For key bills such as delimitation and women's reservation, the BJP-led NDA needs the support of 36 MPs. An effort is under way to gather this number from different states. It is claimed that the BJP is making a strategic move precisely to raise its numbers. The BJP had suffered a major setback over these same two bills in the summer session. In the past 12 years not a single government bill had fallen, but this time the opposition showed unity, so it appears the BJP has now changed its strategy.

It is being said that if the two Nationalist parties unite, the BJP stands to gain greatly and there will be a far-reaching impact on politics in western Maharashtra. Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena could also be dealt a heavy blow. If the Nationalist party grows stronger, one side of the scales will tilt in the BJP's favour, and an attempt will be made to answer the Shinde Sena's pressure politics through the Nationalist party. Amid all this talk, the final decision will be Sharad Pawar's alone, so the direction of politics hinges on what strength Pawar shows.