Nagpur: With the buzz of a possible merger of Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) with Congress picking pace on Friday, politicians from both sides said there was no such proposal, with even BJP questioning why anybody would want to board a ‘sinking ship'.
Raut's Call for Unity
Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut set off the chatter by calling on secular parties to return to the Congress fold and requested Pawar to take the lead. This set social media abuzz that along with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, NCP (SP) may dissolve into their original party.
Congress Leader's Response
Former state Congress chief, Nana Patole, said there was nothing new about such proposals. "There was one made earlier by Sharad Pawar and discussions were going on. But I am not privy to the details or where it got stuck. As for the current situation, I heard about the proposal only from the media," said Patole, who left for Delhi after being summoned by the high command.
Patole denied his visit is related to the proposed merger with NCP-SP. While Patole agreed there's a need for opposition to unite, he did not sound enthusiastic about a merger and when questioned, he referred to the pending proposal.
NCP(SP) Denies Discussions
Former NCP (SP) MLA, Anil Deshmukh, dismissed the merger discussion as hypothetical buzz. "I was with Sharad Pawar saheb on June 10 and 11 for party related events, which included a session on discussions with senior party members and legislators. I can confirm Pawar saheb did not mention anything about a merger. No such thing was discussed," said Deshmukh. On opposition unity, Deshmukh said, "All parties are united under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) banner."
While NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule did say Raut's merger suggestion will be considered, many see it as a polite, yet sarcastic reply. Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal addressed the media in Mumbai, but brushed aside the merger issue saying such decisions are taken by the party brass in Delhi.
BJP's Reaction
BJP in the meantime had a field day ripping into MVA with CM Devendra Fadnavis questioning the reason for a merger. "It's a sinking ship, who will want to board it," asked Fadnavis in Mumbai. On Raut making the suggestion, the CM questioned his locus standi. "A person who is member of neither party is talking about the merger. This is like begaani shaadi mein Abdullah deewaana," said Fadnavis.
Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said even if such a proposal is in the works, Congress won't be able to decide. "In Congress, no one consults anyone. The party runs on dynastic politics. No decision happens in any core committee or parliamentary board and I don't think anyone will go there," said Bawankule, claiming Congress floated this idea to stay in the news.
