Supriya Sule says NCP merger talk ended the day Ajit Pawar died

The question of merging the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party is back in the news in Maharashtra politics. MP Supriya Sule has made it clear that the discussion has now come to an end. In a significant statement, she said talks on the merger were ended on the very day Ajit Pawar died.

Ms Sule said talks on merging the two factions had been under way earlier, and a date had even been fixed for the process. In other words, the matter was not limited to political discussion; there was some movement on it. But after Ajitdada's death, the talks were stopped.

Folding her hands, Ms Sule requested that she not be asked about the merger any more. She said the subject was being seen only as political talk, while for her it was an emotional matter. She said, "For you this is a discussion, for us it is a feeling."

Meanwhile, there are reportedly four different opinions within the Sharad Pawar faction on the merger. According to sources, the party has developed four lines of thinking, not two. Several senior MLAs of the Sharad Pawar faction are said to favour merging the two factions and joining the government. These leaders are said to feel that the political strength of both factions could grow if they came together.

Some leaders are considering going with the NDA as a separate faction. Rohit Pawar is said to be against joining the government. Rohit Patil, on the other hand, has said he will abide by the party's final decision.

According to the information available, merger talks had also been held with Ajit Pawar earlier, and about 17 meetings were held in this connection. It is also being said that differing views had earlier emerged on what Sharad Pawar's role would be in a decision to join the government, and questions are still being raised.