Maharashtra politics is witnessing a lot of activity these days. Rumours of a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are spreading rapidly. Interestingly, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is a partner of the BJP in the Maharashtra government, and Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, is the Deputy CM. Consequently, the BJP is closely monitoring the Ajit Pawar faction’s stance after the merger.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also responded to this issue. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, he said that only Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar can clarify whether the two factions of the NCP will merge. He claimed that neither of the two leaders has discussed such a proposal with the BJP.
Speaking to reporters during a Diwali get-together at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai, Devendra Fadnavis said that if Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar decide to merge, they will come and inform him. “The merger cannot happen without us, but no one has told us anything about it yet.”
When asked about the comparison between Sunetra Pawar and her late husband, Ajit Pawar, CM Fadnavis called it unfair. He said that Ajit Dada was a leader who had been tested by time. He had a vast understanding of Maharashtra and a deep knowledge of the state. He had decades of political experience and a deep understanding of Maharashtra. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to compare the two.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister further stated that Sunetra Pawar is new to politics and is gradually adapting to the circumstances. “Sunetra Pawar is adapting to the circumstances,” he said. “It would be unfair to compare her to a veteran politician like Ajit Dada.” He further stated that the NCP is serving the people. Sunetra and other senior NCP leaders are working together to manage the party.
It is noteworthy that Devendra Fadnavis’s statement comes at a time when speculation is rife about a unification between the two factions of the NCP. Recently, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leaders, led by Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, met with Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Following this, Praful Patel visited Sharad Pawar, who is hospitalized in Mumbai. It remains to be seen what future implications this development within the NCP will have for Maharashtra politics.