Harshvardhan Patil says Ajit Pawar wanted both NCP factions to come together

Talk of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress parties is gathering pace in state politics. Several NCP leaders are going to meet Sharad Pawar, which has fuelled the speculation. Former minister Harshvardhan Patil has now made a significant remark on the merger.

According to Patil, Ajit Pawar's position was that the two parties should come together. He said he was himself present at the meeting on the subject. Patil said that at the merger meeting, Ajitdada wanted the two NCPs to become one.

Patil said several leaders had given different reactions, but a decision to come together was taken at that time, and that this was a fact. He said this was why the two parties had fought the last elections together. He said that, unfortunately, Ajitdada met with an accident and the situation changed afterwards. Patil also said, with emotion, that he is reminded of Dada at every step even today.

On who will decide on the merger, Patil said the final decision rests with the party president. He said that as a senior leader he, too, has a role, but the collective opinion of the party carries more weight than personal opinion.

Patil said a meeting on the matter had been held on January 18. Ajitdada had himself come to him then. He then went to Baramati with Sharad Pawar, where talks were held. Patil made it clear that no one has discussed the merger with him in the present circumstances.

Patil expressed hope that the NCP core committee meeting could be held next week. According to him, in the merger process the heads of the two parties will first talk, followed by the core committee and then the legislators.

Meanwhile, Sunetra Pawar has hinted that the right decisions will be taken at the right time. Supriya Sule has said, after Ajitdada's death, that the merger issue is over for her. Political circles in the state are now watching what decision is finally taken on the two NCPs becoming one.