Yugendra Pawar says NCP merger was settled, Ajit Pawar was to announce it around February 12

The merger of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is being widely discussed in Maharashtra politics these days. Leaders of the Ajit Pawar camp had met Sharad Pawar, and meetings between leaders of the two NCP factions followed. These developments have led to all manner of talk about a merger.

Leaders of both factions are saying that there is no discussion on a merger for now. Against this backdrop, NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Yugendra Pawar has spoken on the issue.

Yugendra Pawar said, "The merger was bound to happen. We have been hearing this talk and these reports for many months. Ajit Dada had held a meeting on this. Dada also held a meeting here at Govind Baug. All of you journalists were present then. Everything was decided. Around February 12, Dada himself would have announced it. Suddenly Dada left us all, and so that matter was left behind. The merger was to happen, it was Dada's wish. He wanted to come together with Pawar saheb once again."

In the conversation, Yugendra Pawar also spoke on the plane crash involving Ajit Pawar. He said he is not an expert in aviation, is not a pilot and has not studied the subject. According to him, there must be an inquiry, and that has been the stand of all of them. He said that when Dada died, they were all sitting at Baramati police station. He also said that Rohit Pawar has been speaking on the subject for several days.

Yugendra Pawar said everyone wants an inquiry, and a quick one. He demanded that the report be placed before everyone and made public.

Yugendra Pawar also made his position clear on Gokul. He said, "What is going on regarding Gokul is wrong. The people of Kolhapur there have clearly given their verdict in favour of Bunty Patil. Appointing new directors there or taking such a decision is wrong and very harmful for democracy. That is why the self-respecting people of Kolhapur have taken to the streets for Bunty Patil."