Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday said discussions on the merger of the two NCP factions were still at a preliminary stage and no final decision had been taken.
MUMBAI — Senior NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday said discussions on the merger of the two NCP factions were still at a preliminary stage and no final decision had been taken.
Any move would require consultations with party leadership and allies, he said amid speculation over the merger of the Sunetra Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP).
"Both NCP factions coming together is a wish shared by many of us, but the question is how it can happen and who should take the initiative," Bhujbal said, adding that merger discussions had taken place between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, but there was no final agreement.
On the possibility of the two NCP factions reuniting, he reiterated that the discussions had not progressed to a concrete decision.
"There is no final decision yet. It is only discussions. We don't know what NCP (SP) wants," Bhujbal added.
"I have also heard about the discussions between Ajit Dada and Sharad Pawar. But I do not think anything has been finalised or given the final stamp of approval," he said.
Bhujbal recalled that when he was hospitalised after a major surgery, Jayant Patil (from the Sharad Pawar faction) had visited him, and Ajit Pawar had subsequently come to meet him.
Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil had discussed the possibility of bringing everyone together during their meeting, which lasted around 40-45 minutes, Bhujbal said.
Bhujbal also referred to a meeting at an agricultural exhibition in Baramati, where Sharad Pawar and four-five associates had met Ajit Pawar. Supriya Sule was also present, he said.
However, he said the political situation had changed considerably following Ajit Pawar's death.
"If Ajit Dada had been there, he would certainly have taken everyone along and led them forward. But his sudden death has changed the entire situation," Bhujbal said.
On whether the merger could happen, he said the two factions were in different political alliances, with one associated with the BJP-led NDA and the other with the opposition INDIA bloc.
"We (NCP) are in the government with them. We cannot take any step without consulting them. Their consent will have to be taken," he said, referring to the BJP-led alliance.
Bhujbal said the merger involved several complicated questions, including differing political expectations and the interests of leaders in both factions.
"Everyone has their own expectations and their own perspective. How all this can be brought together is a complicated question," he said.
Asked whether he would take the initiative, Bhujbal said he would act as per the decisions of his party leadership.
"My party leaders, MLAs and district presidents will have to decide. I will express my opinion before them," he said.
He also said Sunetra Pawar, who became NCP president following Ajit Pawar's death, would eventually explain the developments to party members.
"I am sure Sunetra tai will give everyone confidence and explain what is happening," he said.
Bhujbal said he had great respect for Sharad Pawar, describing him as one of the state's senior-most and most mature political leaders, while stressing that the two belonged to different parties.
"Sharad Pawar's party is different and my party is different. But he is such a person that even if someone is his political enemy, he maintains relations and speaks to them. He does not bring politics into every matter," Bhujbal said.
He said personal relationships should not be confused with political alignments, adding that meeting Pawar to extend Diwali greetings was entirely appropriate.
Asked about the possibility of the Thackeray cousins and the two Pawar factions coming together, Bhujbal said such developments would naturally bring happiness to people who had worked to build the respective political organisations.