The Crossbill News Desk
Rejecting reports of an imminent reunion between the rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party, the ruling NCP on Thursday (February 18) categorically denied that any merger proposal was under consideration.
The clarification came amid claims by the Opposition NCP-SP that former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had worked out the framework for a rapprochement before his death.
Addressing the media, NCP chief spokesperson Anand Paranjape described the speculation as “unfortunate politics” and accused the Sharadchandra Pawar-led faction of creating confusion at a time when party members are still mourning.
“We too have lost our deity. Even today, NCP workers, office-bearers and public representatives are grief-stricken by the feeling that ‘Dada’ is no longer among us. We are supporting and comforting one another. But the unfortunate politics being played by the Sharadchandra Pawar faction is deeply wrong,” The Indian Express quoted Paranjape as saying.
He emphasised that the party’s immediate focus was organisational consolidation rather than merger talks.
“The issue of merger is not before us. After losing our deity, our focus is the national convention on February 26, where our mother figure, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Dada Pawar, will be elected national president,” he said.
Paranjape added that under her leadership and the guidance of senior leaders such as Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif and Dhananjay Munde, the party would work to strengthen its position within the ruling Mahayuti alliance and advance Ajit Pawar’s political vision.
The ruling NCP’s response followed remarks by NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar, who claimed that a merger between the two factions had already been finalised and that Shirur MP Amol Kolhe was set to become the state president of a unified party. Paranjape dismissed the assertion as misleading and politically motivated.
“Candidates of his party fighting elections on the clock symbol does not mean merger. NCP-SP MLA Bapu Pathare’s son fought an election from the BJP. Does that mean NCP-SP has merged with the BJP?” Paranjape asked.
The party also defended Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party after Rohit Pawar called for his removal pending an inquiry into the aircraft crash that claimed Ajit Pawar’s life. Rohit Pawar had alleged a possible conflict of interest involving the TDP and VSR Ventures, the company that supplied the aircraft.
Responding to the charge, Paranjape said that Naidu, along with Murlidhar Mohol, had ordered a probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the first day itself.
“The Black Box data will certainly be recovered. Whether it is the VSR company, the pilot, or the track record… everything must be probed,” he said.
The clarification came amid claims by the Opposition NCP-SP that former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had worked out the framework for a rapprochement before his death.
Addressing the media, NCP chief spokesperson Anand Paranjape described the speculation as “unfortunate politics” and accused the Sharadchandra Pawar-led faction of creating confusion at a time when party members are still mourning.
“We too have lost our deity. Even today, NCP workers, office-bearers and public representatives are grief-stricken by the feeling that ‘Dada’ is no longer among us. We are supporting and comforting one another. But the unfortunate politics being played by the Sharadchandra Pawar faction is deeply wrong,” The Indian Express quoted Paranjape as saying.
He emphasised that the party’s immediate focus was organisational consolidation rather than merger talks.
“The issue of merger is not before us. After losing our deity, our focus is the national convention on February 26, where our mother figure, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Dada Pawar, will be elected national president,” he said.
Paranjape added that under her leadership and the guidance of senior leaders such as Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif and Dhananjay Munde, the party would work to strengthen its position within the ruling Mahayuti alliance and advance Ajit Pawar’s political vision.
The ruling NCP’s response followed remarks by NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar, who claimed that a merger between the two factions had already been finalised and that Shirur MP Amol Kolhe was set to become the state president of a unified party. Paranjape dismissed the assertion as misleading and politically motivated.
“Candidates of his party fighting elections on the clock symbol does not mean merger. NCP-SP MLA Bapu Pathare’s son fought an election from the BJP. Does that mean NCP-SP has merged with the BJP?” Paranjape asked.
The party also defended Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party after Rohit Pawar called for his removal pending an inquiry into the aircraft crash that claimed Ajit Pawar’s life. Rohit Pawar had alleged a possible conflict of interest involving the TDP and VSR Ventures, the company that supplied the aircraft.
Responding to the charge, Paranjape said that Naidu, along with Murlidhar Mohol, had ordered a probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the first day itself.
“The Black Box data will certainly be recovered. Whether it is the VSR company, the pilot, or the track record… everything must be probed,” he said.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment