Maharashtra CM Denies Awareness of NCP Merger Discussions
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday categorically stated that the Maharashtra government had no prior information regarding discussions about a potential merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He also expressed ignorance about any finalized date for such a merger.
"If the discussions on merger had progressed to a conclusive stage, Ajitdada [Pawar] would have certainly informed us," Fadnavis asserted during a media interaction in Mumbai. "Which specific date had been decided? He was an integral part of our government. Would he have taken such a significant decision without consulting us? I have absolutely no knowledge about what discussions transpired between him and Sharad Pawar, or between him and other individuals. As far as our administration is concerned, we are completely unaware of any merger date," he elaborated, emphasizing that the late deputy chief minister "shared everything" with him.
Response to Sharad Pawar's Claim
The Chief Minister's remarks came in direct response to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's assertion that February 12 had been finalized as the date to announce a merger between the two NCP groups. Fadnavis posed two critical questions to counter this claim:
- "Firstly, if Ajit Pawar was indeed engaged in merger discussions, would he have proceeded without taking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into confidence?"
- "Secondly, assuming he was involved in such talks, was his intention to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) when his position within the government was stable?"
He further commented, "Certain individuals have a tendency to create daily confusion and then leverage their ecosystem to amplify this confusion. Everyone is aware that the relationship between Ajitdada and myself was exceptionally close; he confided in me about everything. Even a day before his tragic demise, we spent an hour together in casual conversation."
Defending Sunetra Pawar's Swearing-in Ceremony
Addressing criticisms that Sunetra Pawar's oath-taking ceremony as deputy chief minister was expedited, Fadnavis drew a historical parallel. He recalled that following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Congress party nominated Rajiv Gandhi for the prime ministerial position even before her final rites were conducted.
"Every political party makes decisions based on prevailing circumstances," he explained. "The NCP has resolved that Sunetra Pawar should now lead the party and determined that she should be sworn in as deputy chief minister. As our alliance partner, it is our responsibility to support them." He added that the NCP itself would address whether the swearing-in was rushed or not.
State Budget and Portfolio Allocation
Fadnavis, who has temporarily assumed the finance portfolio, confirmed that he would be presenting the upcoming state budget. He clarified that budget preparation involves more than just delivering a speech.
- A series of comprehensive meetings must be conducted with every government department.
- Allocations for each department need to be meticulously planned.
- Efforts must be made to prevent supplementary demands and ensure all departmental proposals are incorporated.
"Tai (Sunetra Pawar) has recently assumed the role of deputy chief minister, and it is not feasible for the NCP to undertake this extensive exercise immediately," Fadnavis noted. "Therefore, we collectively decided that I would retain the finance portfolio to complete the budget process. Post-budget, we will deliberate and make a final decision regarding portfolio distribution."
Investigation into Ajit Pawar's Air Crash
Regarding the tragic air crash that resulted in Ajit Pawar's death, Fadnavis stated that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently investigating the incident. "Once their report is received, appropriate action will be taken," he assured.
He also provided an update on the investigation, revealing, "The black box, which contains all communication records including internal exchanges between the two pilots, has been recovered. Consequently, the complete truth regarding the incident will soon emerge."
