More NCP merger claims surface after Sharad Pawar's February 12 bombshell

NCP (SP) Maharashtra building block chairwoman Shashikant Shinde on sat said Ajit Pawar was workings to combine the two NCPs before his January 28 death, and that Sharad Pawar and other leaders had no prior knowledge of the decision to have Sunetra Pawar take oath as the state deputy chief minister.Shinde said that there had been discussions and meetings on the reunification of the two NCPs."There had been discussions and meetings on the two NCPs coming together. But Ajitdada is no more. Some broad positions had been discussed earlier. Now, we will discuss what needs to be done and then make a decision. How others respond is their call," Shinde was quoted by PTI as telling reporters.On questions over the apparent haste in conducting Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in ceremony, Shinde said the answers should come from her family, senior party leaders, or the chief minister and his colleagues.62-year-old Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, was on Saturday sworn in as the first woman deputy CM of Maharashtra."Ajit Pawar's passing is a great loss to Maharashtra. When the state is in mourning, why this decision was taken is not known to us. They will have to explain it," Shinde said, adding that Sharad Pawar did not have prior knowledge about her swearing-in.Sharad Pawar also claimed on Saturday that he had "no idea" about the swearing-in of Sunetra Pawar.The merger claimAccording to Shashikant Shinde, eight to ten meetings had been held in the three months prior to Ajit Pawar's January 17 meeting with Sharad Pawar."After the civic elections, a decision was taken to work towards unifying the two parties. This position was also conveyed to Sharad Pawar," he said.Referring to a video of the January 17 meeting between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar that has gone viral, Shinde said it was held at Pawar senior's residence and not at (NCP-SP) leader Jayant Patil's house."Ajitdada said he had discussed the matter with the state president and others, and that he has taken the decision," Shinde said.Asked whether Ajit Pawar wanted the two NCP factions to merge but faced resistance from senior leaders in his party, Shinde said he had no information on that."After completing all processes, we will try to bring leaders from both sides together and hold discussions. Based on the decisions they take, we will decide our next course of action," he said.The January 17 video claimReferring to the viral video, Kiran Gujar, a close associate and confidant of Ajit Pawar and the Pawar family in Baramati, confirmed that it was of the January 17 meeting in which the "merger" talks were being finalised.The video shows senior Pawar sitting at the centre while Ajit Pawar, NCP (SP) leaders Jayant Patil, Rajesh Tope, Shashikant Shinde, Harshwardhan Patil, Rohit Pawar and Lok Sabha MP Amol Kolhe, holding discussions."The meeting took place on January 17, and Ajit Dada told me about the outcome of the meeting on January 21," Gujar said.Sharad Pawar's February 12 claimSharad Pawar had earlier said that his late nephew Ajit Pawar had finalised February 12 to announce the "merger" between the NCP factions."All discussions were held at their level, but it now appears the process may hit a roadblock following the accident," said the NCP (SP) chief.