Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday avoided a direct answer on the possible merger of the two Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP) factions, saying the details would become clear at the right time. Speculation about a merger grew last week after several leaders of the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. The meeting came shortly after Sharad Pawar was hospitalised with a chest infection. A viral video also showed Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel discussing a possible meeting after November 10. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare had also claimed last week that the merger of the two factions would have taken place in February this year if Ajit Pawar had been alive. When reporters asked Sunetra Pawar about the possibility of a merger, she said, "I know all of you are more interested in a different issue at present. However, today's subject is entirely different. Things (about the merger) will be known when the time comes." She was speaking at a press conference to announce programmes for the 191st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, which falls on November 15. Ajit Pawar, who was the deputy chief minister and NCP president, died in an air crash on January 28. Following his death, Sunetra Pawar took over as the NCP president and became the deputy chief minister in the Mahayuti government, which includes the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
