NCP merger talk grows as leaders call on Sharad Pawar at Silver Oak; Fadnavis says he has no information

Talk of a possible merger of the two NCP factions is again running high in Maharashtra politics. Leaders of Ajit Pawar's NCP have been meeting Sharad Pawar more often. Members of the Pawar family are also visiting Silver Oak, and leaders have been making differing statements. This has raised the question of whether the meetings have anything to do with the two parties coming together.

Sharad Pawar had been unwell, and some leaders of Ajit Pawar's NCP are visiting to ask after his health. But because the meetings are taking place amid merger talk, they are also being viewed politically. According to sources, some NCP MLAs have sought time to meet Sharad Pawar on Wednesday.

Earlier, Pankaj Bhujbal and his family met Sharad Pawar. Before that, NCP working president Praful Patel had spoken to him. In that meeting, it emerged that the two leaders would discuss the matter again after the 10th. Sharad Pawar has been sent home from hospital and will rest for the next few days at his residence, Silver Oak, in Mumbai.

After being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital, Parth Pawar went to Silver Oak on Saturday evening and met Sharad Pawar. The conversation lasted about an hour and a half. Sharad Pawar's NCP state president Shashikant Shinde, former home minister Anil Deshmukh and Jitendra Awhad were also present. On Sunday, Parth Pawar reached Silver Oak again. The two consecutive days of meetings set off talk that moves towards a merger had picked up pace. However, no official information has emerged on what was discussed in these meetings.

A statement by NCP state president Sunil Tatkare has also fuelled the speculation. Last week he had said that had Ajit Pawar been alive, the NCP merger would have happened on the 12th. Following Ajit Pawar's death, questions are now being raised about who will carry the merger issue forward and who will take the final decision.

Former minister Rajesh Tope also met Sharad Pawar. He said the meeting was a family one and he had gone to ask after Pawar's health. According to Tope, the drought situation in Marathwada was discussed, and Sharad Pawar asked how the drought was in Marathwada. Tope also said no political discussion took place, so there was nothing for him to say about a merger. He said that while Ajit Pawar was alive, the two factions coming together had been discussed and Ajit Pawar had also approved it. Tope claims that even then Sharad Pawar had rejected the idea.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in an informal conversation that only two people can say whether the NCP is to merge or not: Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Bhabhi. According to Fadnavis, if a decision on a merger is taken, the leaders concerned will tell us, but so far no information has been given to us.

Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat added a new twist to the discussion. He expressed apprehension that instead of the two NCP factions uniting, a third group altogether might emerge from them. Taking a dig, Shirsat said he did not think leaders whose day begins with tearing at each other's clothes would merge. He also said an internal wrestling match was under way in both NCPs. A merger is spoken of in the morning and accusations fly in the afternoon, so it is hard to guess what is going on. Shirsat also referred to the allegations made by Rohit Pawar and said it was in question how real the prospect of unity would be amid this exchange of charges.

It is still unclear whether the merger will happen or differences within the party will grow. It would be premature to conclude, on the basis of meetings and political statements alone, that a decision to merge has been made.