Tatkare says NCP merger would have happened on February 12 had Ajit Pawar been alive

Nationalist Congress Party state president Sunil Tatkare said in Mumbai on Friday, November 13, that had Ajit Pawar been alive today, the two Nationalist Congress parties would have merged on February 12 itself. Talk of the two factions coming together has been strong for the past few days, and Tatkare's statement comes amid it.

According to Tatkare, the two parties coming together was discussed during Ajit Pawar's time. He said Ajitdada had himself told him the date of the merger and had also explained the process through which it would happen. Tatkare reiterated that he had prior knowledge of this.

Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal had earlier claimed that Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil had discussed the merger. Tatkare confirmed the claim. He said Bhujbal had undergone surgery at Asian Hospital and that he had gone there to see him. Ajitdada and Jayant Patil had already met before that. Tatkare said Bhujbal may have joined the conversation from the hospital, so what he has said does not seem wrong to him.

The question is being raised why he did not speak on the subject immediately after Ajit Pawar's death. Tatkare said there is a time to speak on everything and that he knows when to say what. He said he would give more information on the matter at the right time.

Shinde faction leader Uday Samant had commented on the issue. In reply, Tatkare said he did not need to be told what he should say and what he should not. According to him, the two parties are separate, so others should not interfere in the affairs of his party. Tatkare also remarked that the Nationalist Congress had played a small part in Uday Samant becoming a minister.

These new claims have emerged on the earlier talk of a merger. Tatkare also made it clear that, for now, the subject of a merger is over.