A senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister on Monday dismissed speculation about a possible merger of the two factions of the Sharad Pawar-founded party, asserting that no such move was underway.
"There is no merger. We are not going to respond to rumours," the leader, who requested anonymity, told PTI.
The clarification came amid renewed speculation about the reunification of the two NCP factions, which split in July 2023, following meetings between senior leaders of the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP and Sharad Pawar, who recently underwent treatment for a chest infection.
The speculation intensified after Praful Patel and Parth Pawar met the veteran politician last week. While Parth visited Sharad Pawar at his Silver Oak residence in south Mumbai on Saturday and Sunday, Patel met him at Breach Candy Hospital.
A video circulating on social media showed Sharad Pawar and Patel discussing a possible meeting after November 10, prompting speculation about political negotiations between the rival factions.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐
On Sunday, Patel maintained that his meeting with Sharad Pawar was purely personal and intended to inquire about his health, dismissing suggestions that political discussions had taken place.
Clarifying the viral video, Patel said Sharad Pawar knew he would be in Gondia on November 8 and 9 for Diwali celebrations.
"So I said I will be in Mumbai from November 10 and will visit him again to check on his health," Patel said.
Sharad Pawar was initially admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune on November 2 and discharged on November 4. He was subsequently admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai and discharged on Saturday morning.
Amid the speculation, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare claimed that the two factions would have reunited in February this year had former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar been alive.
๐ก๐๐ฃ ๐ต๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil on Monday criticised Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat for commenting on the possibility of a merger between the two NCP factions.
"Why are you so concerned about our merger? You too have two Shiv Sena factions. Why don't you accept the option of merger?" Patil asked.
Referring to the Shiv Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, Patil questioned who would become party president if the two groups reunited and which faction's district and taluka-level office-bearers would retain their positions.
He said it was inappropriate for Shirsat to speculate about the NCP's internal affairs when no similar discussions were taking place regarding the reunification of the Shiv Sena factions, which split in June 2022.
"One should first sort out matters in one's own house before looking into the affairs of other parties," Patil said.
He added that political leaders visiting Sharad Pawar should focus on wishing him a speedy recovery rather than making political statements about the meetings.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ
The exchange followed remarks by Shirsat on Sunday suggesting that a merger between the NCP and NCP (SP) appeared to be in its final stages.
Referring to Parth Pawar's meeting with Sharad Pawar, the Shiv Sena minister claimed that political developments were underway and that the roles of various leaders would soon become clear.
However, the senior NCP leader's categorical denial on Monday contradicted those claims, with the party maintaining that the recent meetings were not connected to any reunification proposal.
The developments have nevertheless kept speculation alive about the future relationship between the two factions, more than three years after the party's division.