TWO months after the tragic death of then Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati, two NCP leaders have voiced support for the merger of the party, now headed by Sunetra Pawar, with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). Immediately after Ajit Pawar’s demise on January 28, senior NCP (SP) leaders had claimed that a merger was in the works before the senior leader died. Leaders of the NCP had then dismissed the claim, saying no such decision was taken.

 

“If both the parties are to come together and the NCP is to grow under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, the time has not passed yet,” said Sunil Shelke, NCP MLA from Maval. Shelke, who was considered a staunch loyalist of Ajit Pawar, was supported by Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Anna Bansode. “Leaders at the State level and district levels think that if two parties unite under leadership of Sunetravahini, it will be good for all,” said Bansode, NCP MLA from Pimpri. The remarks by the two NCP leaders on Sunday came amid a row over photographs of Ajit Pawar and his wife and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar missing from the banner of a party event in Raigad district attended by State NCP President Sunil Tatkare.