NCP MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday dismissed talk of a merger between the two party factions. He said, "There has been no discussion on merger in our party." Rohit claimed these reports were created to build a political narrative, adding that his party remains a critic of the current government.
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Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday dismissed speculation about a merger between the two NCP factions, saying no such discussions were taking place within his party. He alleged that the reports were being circulated to create a particular political narrative, as reported by news agency PTI.
Speaking to reporters after meeting his grand uncle and party president Sharad Pawar at his residence, Rohit Pawar said neither Sharad Pawar nor party working president Supriya Sule had discussed a possible merger or an alliance with the BJP.
"If merger talks were underway, Supriya tai or Pawar Saheb would have spoken to me. There has been no discussion on merger in our party. The discussion is only in Ajit Dada's party and in the media," he said.
Speculation about a possible merger gathered pace last week after several leaders of the Sunetra Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met Sharad Pawar, who was recently hospitalised for a chest infection.
A viral video also showed Sharad Pawar and Patel discussing a possible meeting after November 10. Meanwhile, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare claimed that the merger of the two factions would have taken place in February this year had Ajit Pawar been alive.
However, Rohit Pawar, the MLA from Karjat Jamkhed, alleged that the merger speculation was intended to shape a particular political narrative. He also maintained that he remained one of the most vocal critics of the BJP-led Maharashtra government.
The NCP (SP) leader also raised questions over the investigation into the aircraft crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. He alleged that the probe was not proceeding in the right direction and that those in power were not addressing the doubts surrounding the incident.
Rohit Pawar said he would make a detailed presentation in Mumbai on November 14-15, outlining the crash and the questions surrounding it.
Turning to the Gokul dairy controversy, Rohit Pawar criticised the Maharashtra cabinet's decision to grant voting rights to four government-nominated directors on the board of the milk cooperative.
He termed the decision unconstitutional and held Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responsible for the move.