Talk of NCP merger revives; Congress's Londhe claims Ajit Pawar was set to quit Mahayuti

Talk of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions has started again in Maharashtra politics. A question is also being raised: if the two parties unite again, which alliance will they be in, the India bloc or the Mahayuti?

Against this backdrop, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe has made a big claim. Londhe said Ajit Pawar was about to leave the Mahayuti. His statement has set off fresh discussion in political circles.

It is being said that for the past few months there has been talk of a merger of the NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. Citing NCP leaders, it is being said that no official merger proposal has reached Sharad Pawar.

According to sources, the matter is currently stuck on how to take forward what was discussed on the merger while Ajit Pawar was alive. It is also being said that some senior leaders of the NCP faction led by Sunetra Pawar are urging a merger.

The talk gained momentum when NCP MP Sunil Tatkare met Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar two days ago. The conversation between Tatkare and Sunetra Pawar is said to have lasted about an hour and a half. It is being said that the proposed merger of the two NCP parties was also discussed at the meeting. After meeting Sunetra Pawar, Tatkare also met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha, his official residence.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has also made a claim. According to Raut, 20 to 22 MLAs of the Sunetra Pawar faction are preparing to leave the party and are in touch with Sharad Pawar. Raut said these MLAs have become disenchanted with the party's political developments and are thinking of leaving.

Raut said these MLAs could quit the party at any time. He made the claim at a time when talk of a merger of the two factions has heated up Maharashtra's political climate. The claims of Londhe and Raut are their own. NCP leaders are for now saying only that no official merger proposal has reached Sharad Pawar.