Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Friday that discussions on a possible merger of the two NCP factions were still at a preliminary stage and no final decision had been taken, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Bhujbal said any such move would require consultations with the party leadership and allies. His remarks came amid speculation about a reunion of the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP).“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.
He added that Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar had held discussions, but had not reached a final agreement.“There is no final decision yet. It is only discussions.
We don't know what NCP (SP) wants,” he said. “I have also heard about the discussions between Ajit Dada and Sharad Pawar. But I do not think anything has been finalised or given the final stamp of approval.” According to PTI, Bhujbal recalled that NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil had visited him when he was in hospital after major surgery, and Ajit Pawar had later met him.
During their 40-45 minute meeting, Ajit Pawar and Patil discussed the possibility of bringing everyone together, he said.Bhujbal also referred to a meeting at an agricultural exhibition in Baramati, where Sharad Pawar and four or five associates met Ajit Pawar. Supriya Sule was also present, he said.
He said the political situation had changed considerably after Ajit Pawar's death. “If Ajit Dada had been there, he would certainly have taken everyone along and led them forward. But his sudden death has changed the entire situation,” Bhujbal said.On the possibility of a merger, Bhujbal pointed out that the two factions were part of different political alliances.
The NCP is associated with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, while the NCP (SP) is part of the opposition INDIA bloc.“We are in the government with them. We cannot take any step without consulting them.
Their consent will have to be taken,” he said, referring to the BJP-led alliance.Bhujbal said a merger involved several complicated issues, including different political expectations and the interests of leaders in both factions. “Everyone has their own expectations and their own perspective. How all this can be brought together is a complicated question,” he said.Asked whether he would take the initiative, Bhujbal said he would follow the decisions of the party leadership. “My party leaders, MLAs and district presidents will have to decide.
I will express my opinion before them,” he said.He said Sunetra Pawar, who became NCP president following Ajit Pawar's death, would explain the developments to party members. “I am sure Sunetra tai will give everyone confidence and explain what is happening,” he said.Bhujbal also expressed respect for Sharad Pawar, describing him as one of Maharashtra's senior-most and most mature political leaders, while stressing that they belonged to different parties. “Sharad Pawar's party is different and my party is different. But he is such a person that even if someone is his political enemy, he maintains relations and speaks to them.
He does not bring politics into every matter,” he said.He said personal relationships should not be confused with political alliances and added that meeting Sharad Pawar to extend Diwali greetings was appropriate.Asked about the possibility of the Thackeray cousins and the two Pawar factions coming together, Bhujbal said such developments would naturally make people who had worked to build the respective political organisations happy. He maintained that any reunion of the NCP factions remained under discussion and would require decisions by party leaders and consultations with alliance partners.- Ends(With PTI inputs)