‘Ajit Pawar’s death put a full stop to NCP merger discussions’: Supriya Sule
Speculation has been rife over the past week after senior NCP leaders, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule has ruled out the possibility of a merger between the party's two rival factions, stating that all related discussions ended following the death of her brother, Ajit Pawar. Her statement aligns with a similar clarification from the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP faction, effectively putting an end to recent political speculation sparked by meetings between senior leaders from both sides.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule has ruled out the possibility of a merger between the party's two rival factions, stating that all related discussions ended following the death of her brother, Ajit Pawar. Her statement aligns with a similar clarification from the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP faction, effectively putting an end to recent political speculation sparked by meetings between senior leaders from both sides.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule has ruled out the possibility of a merger between the party's two rival factions, stating that all related discussions ended following the death of her brother, Ajit Pawar. Her statement aligns with a similar clarification from the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP faction, effectively putting an end to recent political speculation sparked by meetings between senior leaders from both sides.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president and MP Supriya Sule has virtually ruled out the possibility of a merger between the party's two rival factions.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Sule said discussions about a merger had come to an end following the death of her brother and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
"The merger (of both factions of the party) was discussed until my brother (Ajit Pawar) was alive. The day he left us, it put a full stop to those discussions," she said.
Ajit Pawar died on January 28 after the aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district.
Sule's clarification came a day after the NCP faction led by Sunetra Pawar issued a similar statement, saying the party was not considering a merger with the NCP (SP).
"There is absolutely no discussion regarding a merger in our party at any level," Maharashtra NCP president and MP Sunil Tatkare said.
Speculation about a possible merger between the two factions had been rife over the past week after senior leaders from Sunetra Pawar's faction, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.
Later, Sunetra Pawar's remark that things would become clear "at the appropriate time" further fuelled the speculation.
On Friday, senior NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said discussions were still at a preliminary stage and that no final decision had been taken.
"Both NCP factions coming together is a wish shared by many of us, but the question is how it can happen and who should take the initiative," Bhujbal said.
Bhujbal also recalled that Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil, from the Sharad Pawar faction, had discussed the possibility of bringing the two factions together during their meeting.