BJP says Sharad Pawar, Sunetra Pawar to decide on NCP merger

Mumbai: BJP has stepped into the debate over a possible merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, asserting that the decision rests with Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar.

While NCP (SP) leaders like Rohit Pawar insist that a reunion is off the table and NCP president Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Ajit Pawar, maintains silence, BJP leaders like Pravin Darekar and Navnath Ban on Saturday dismissed objections raised by other leaders.

"We are not looking at the statements of the lower rung leaders seriously," Darekar said a day after Rohit Pawar ruled out the possibility of a merger.


"The merger of the two NCP's will not be determined by anyone else but by Sharad Pawar of the NCP(SP) and Sunetra Pawar. In the end, the lower rung leaders cannot take this decision," Darekar said. His remarks came amid renewed speculation following NCP leader Praful Patel's recent meeting with Sharad Pawar, who was recovering at Breach Candy Hospital. Pawar was discharged on Saturday.