Tatkare says both NCP factions would be together today if Ajit Pawar were alive

Political activity in the state is intensifying, with the ruling side and the Opposition at odds over several issues. Against this backdrop, a statement by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president Sunil Tatkare has revived talk of a merger of the two NCP parties.

"If Ajit Pawar were alive, both the Nationalist Congress parties would have been seen together today," Tatkare said. His remark has caused considerable stir in political circles.

Tatkare made it clear that no talks on merging the two parties are on at present. According to him, the picture would have been different had Ajit Pawar been alive. After Pawar's death, talk of a merger receded. Tatkare said that had "Ajitdada" been around, the two parties would have been seen coming together.

Tatkare also made a significant claim. According to him, the date of 12 February would also have been fixed in the matter. He said that he was a close associate of Ajit Pawar, and that Pawar had therefore told him this.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Praful Patel visited Sharad Pawar at a hospital on Thursday, 5 November. After the meeting, Patel had said that politically they were distant, but not distant at heart. The question then began to be asked whether the two NCP parties would unite again.

Shashikant Shinde, state president of the Sharad Pawar faction, also reacted to Tatkare's statement. Shinde said talk of a merger of the two parties was going on while Ajit Pawar was alive. According to him, they had been speaking about it earlier, but their statements were not given much importance then. Shinde said that now that Tatkare himself has said it, the reality has come out.

Shinde also said that had the two NCP parties come together, the political picture of the Zilla Parishad and municipal corporation elections would have looked different.

The issue of the merger, stalled after Ajit Pawar's death, is thus back in discussion. However, it has not become clear that any official decision or talks on the two parties coming together are on at present.