As MLA Sunil Shelke calls for NCPs’ merger, Tatkare says Sunetra Pawar will take ‘ultimate decision’

Speaking to The Indian Express, Tatkare said it was up to the NCP national president to decide on the merger. “She will take the ultimate decision,” he said.

“I had never opposed it even at that time. That question will arise only if a merger proposal comes forward. Those who do not accept Sunetra Pawar’s leadership may join other parties. But if both NCP groups unite under her leadership, I would be very happy,” he said when asked whether he was in favour of the merger.

However, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Anil Deshmukh said no discussion is underway about the two NCPs coming together. “There is no possibility of a merger.”

Immediately after the death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28, leaders of the NCP, led by Sharad Pawar, claimed that the former NCP national president was keen on the merger and had held several rounds of discussions with them.

However, NCP leaders like Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal rejected any such contentions. Even Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that if any such discussion was underway, Ajit Pawar would have told him about it.

As NCP leaders continued to discount the possibility of a merger, leaders of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) stopped raising the issue, ruling out any merger in the future.