Supriya Sule 'tired' of merger talk, says issue ended with Dada's death

Supriya Sule has said she is tired of the talk of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party factions and will not comment on the subject any further.

Discussion on the merger of the two parties has been going on for the past few days, with different claims being made. Sunil Tatkare, state president of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, had claimed that the two parties would have merged on February 12 itself. The claim has drawn varied reactions from political circles. Sule has now given her response.

Sule said that those asking about it may not be bored of the merger talk, but she is. She said she would not speak on the subject any further. According to her, it is true that discussions on the merger were held between Dada, leaders of his party and leaders of the Nationalist party, and that a date had been fixed.

"My brother Dada is gone, and after that we have put a full stop to these discussions from our side," Sule said. She said she had nothing to do with what the Ajit Pawar-led NCP says and does not comment on its reactions. She said her bond with her brother was close and that the affection would always remain. She also asked what was wrong if she discussed the matter with leaders of her own party.

Sule said there were many issues to discuss, such as inflation, drought and policy making. She said she would speak on the merger that day, that people could ask whatever they wished, but that she would remain silent after that. She made it clear she would not speak on the merger again.

Sule said that after Dada's death the merger was no longer on her mind and that for her the subject ended there. She also spoke of not joining the government. She added that "we believe in democracy".