Thorve claims Tatkare phoned NCP MLAs after Ajit Pawar's death to win them over

The issue of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress parties is back in the spotlight in Maharashtra politics. MP Sunil Tatkare made a statement on the merger involving Ajit Pawar. Shinde faction MLA Mahendra Thorve then targeted him and levelled several serious allegations.

On November 6, Tatkare made an important statement on the merger of the two NCP parties. He said that had Ajit Pawar been alive, the two parties would have merged on February 12. Tatkare also claimed that Ajit Dada had briefed him on the merger process. According to him, the process stalled after Ajit Pawar's death. Tatkare clarified that no talks on a merger are currently under way.

Thorve, the MLA from Karjat, has put a direct question to Tatkare over this statement. Thorve claims that 13 meetings were held on merging the two NCP parties while Ajit Pawar was alive. He asked why Tatkare, who describes himself as a trusted associate of Ajit Dada, was not present at these meetings.

Thorve also alleged that Tatkare's present statements do not square with his earlier role.

Thorve also made a major claim about the political developments after Ajit Pawar's death. He alleged that after Ajit Dada's death, Tatkare phoned NCP MLAs to try to bring them to his side.

According to Thorve, Tatkare wanted the Deputy Chief Minister's post and the finance portfolio. Thorve claims this attempt by Tatkare did not succeed because of the political role of Sunetra Pawar.

These are all Thorve's allegations and claims. Tatkare's response to them will be significant.

While there is a claim that merger talks took place, the two sides are trading charges over who actually knew what at the time. This has revived the issue of a merger of the two NCP factions.