Bhujbal on NCP merger talk: I have not understood what the other side wants

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal spoke to the media on talk of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party factions. He said all the leaders of his party and he himself would sit down and take a decision. According to Bhujbal, he has not yet understood what the other side wants.

Bhujbal asked how all this would happen. He asked whether everyone would go into the NDA or whether everyone would go into the INDIA bloc. He said he had not yet found any thread to hold on to. He said that as Sunetra Didi has indicated, everyone will know when the right time comes. He said he was confident that Sunetra Didi would take everyone into confidence and tell them.

Bhujbal said he too was hearing the talk of a merger and that a "merger merger" game was going on. In his view, if a merger is to happen, both sides should play like a team. He said it does not work that one player goes, the whole team is there, some talks take place, and then if something happens, people return home. He said a cricket match is on and the sides should decide together, with their arms around each other's shoulders. He did not think anyone would do something like this piecemeal.

He said the merger talk had not reached him. He too watches television and cannot tell who is meeting whom, who is leaving and what has happened. He said he keeps listening to the conclusions that the media draw from it.

Asked about MLAs of the Ajit Dada faction meeting Sharad Pawar, Bhujbal said he too had gone to meet Pawar, had visited him in hospital and had gone to his home. In his view, there is nothing wrong in going to ask after someone's health. He said there are two leaders in his life, Balasaheb Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, and both are his guides. He said that, unfortunately, Balasaheb is no longer here. Sharad Pawar's party is different and he is in a different party, while everyone else is his colleague and a leader of his party.

Bhujbal said he met Sharad Pawar but did not discuss the "merger merger" game. He said they have good relations. According to Bhujbal, it is Pawar's nature that however big an enemy someone may be in politics, he keeps up relations with them and speaks warmly. He said he has learnt from Pawar not to carry enmity over everything. He said Pawar is the most senior leader in the state.

Bhujbal said it would be a matter of joy if everyone came together. In his view, if the two Shiv Senas were to unite tomorrow, or the Thackeray brothers were to come together, old Shiv Sainiks would be happy. Likewise, if the two Pawars come together, those who played an important role in founding the NCP would be happy. He said Sharad Pawar and he had founded the NCP. At that time some people hesitated to join the party and wondered whether to stay in the Congress or come to the NCP. So some came after four months and some after six months. He said that even so, if the two Pawars come together, old associates will only be happy.