NCP Faction to Remain Firmly with NDA as Merger Talks Hit Roadblock
In a significant political development, Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunil Tatkare has categorically stated that his faction, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, will continue its alliance with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This declaration comes amidst growing speculation about a possible merger between the two NCP factions following the recent demise of Ajit Pawar.
Tatkare Reaffirms Unwavering Commitment to NDA Alliance
Sunil Tatkare emphasized that the decision to join the NDA was a conscious one taken by Ajit Pawar, which received overwhelming support from the people of Maharashtra. "We are part of NDA and we will remain in NDA. NDA means BJP and its allies. Ajitdada had consciously taken the decision to go with NDA and the people of Maharashtra had accepted it and ensured victory of our 41 MLAs," Tatkare asserted during his recent statements.
The state NCP president clarified that his loyalty remains firmly with Ajit Pawar's vision, recalling how he was appointed as the party's state president in 2014 by Sharad Pawar during the undivided NCP era. "I proved my ability of then undivided NCP. Some others were also made presidents, but not all could prove their ability," he added, highlighting his political credentials.
Merger Speculation Dismissed Amid Conflicting Statements
While Tatkare maintained that he was never opposed to the merger idea, he questioned the timing of these discussions. "Why is the merger issue being discussed immediately after the funeral? Those who started should be asked why they did so," he remarked, referring to Ajit Pawar's recent passing.
When pressed about the conditions for merger, Tatkare responded: "Who am I to put condition? I didn't say anything was conditional. I said we are part of NDA and will remain part of NDA." He shifted the responsibility to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP faction, stating: "They will have to speak about it. They are already speaking about merger and what all was decided."
Contradictory Claims from Various Political Quarters
The political landscape reveals conflicting narratives about the proposed merger:
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed claims about possible merger discussions, stating that Ajit Pawar would have informed him if such talks were happening.
- NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde claimed that merger discussions had been ongoing, with Ajit Pawar reportedly discussing the matter with the Chief Minister.
- Assembly Deputy Speaker Anna Bansode, a close associate of Ajit Pawar, confirmed that merger discussions had been happening for three to four months, involving key leaders including Tatkare.
- NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar indicated he would reveal more details about the merger discussions after the 13th-day rituals of Ajit Pawar's death are completed.
Ideological Foundation and Future Direction
Tatkare emphasized that his faction remains committed to the progressive ideology of Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar while maintaining its NDA alliance. "We follow the ideology of Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar. We believe in progressive mindset. If it is acceptable to them (Sharad Pawar's party), they have to then come forward," he stated, outlining the potential path forward for any unification.
The political uncertainty continues as various stakeholders present differing versions of events, with the future of NCP unity remaining uncertain amidst these conflicting claims and declarations of loyalty to existing alliances.
