Sunetra Pawar to meet NCP MLAs on Tuesday, merger a likely agenda

Pune: Deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar is set to meet party MLAs in Mumbai on Tuesday amid demands for wider consultations on the proposed merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) groups.Former minister and senior NCP MLA Dilip Walse Patil on Saturday said he has received a message about her meeting with all party legislators. Sources said Sunetra is expected to discuss the merger issue and may hold one-on-one interactions with MLAs to seek their views. The move follows statements by several leaders that their opinions should be taken into account before any decision is finalised.
Party MLA from Pusad and minister of state Indranil Naik on Sunday said the leadership must consult party functionaries and take them into confidence. "A meeting of all MLAs must be called to discuss the issue in detail, and a collective decision should be taken on the merger. We will present our views when the leadership seeks our opinion," he added.Earlier, Igatpuri MLA Hiraman Khoskar, speaking to reporters in Delhi, claimed that around 35 of the 40 NCP MLAs, including him, were in favour of a merger of the two factions. "We want the merger to happen, and that will be a true tribute to Ajitdada. I will share my opinion with Sunetratai in the meeting," he said.Leaders of the NCP (SP) earlier claimed that Ajit Pawar was keen on a merger after the local body polls and that a series of meetings had been held to discuss it.A party MLA from Pune confirmed that legislators have been called for Tuesday's meeting. "The agenda has not been formally communicated, but the merger issue is likely to be discussed," he said, adding that Sunetra Pawar may interact with each MLA individually.On Saturday, NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde said there would be no further discussions on the merger within the party and that no leader would comment publicly on the issue, as it was perceived that they were taking an aggressive stand.NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil, who claimed to be among the key leaders involved in discussions with Ajit Pawar on the proposed merger, told reporters in Pune on Saturday that it was Ajit Pawar who initiated the talks and visited his residence 11 times to discuss it. "Looking at the political reactions to the matter, I have decided not to comment any further," Patil said.Earlier, senior NCP leader and minister Chhagan Bhujbal ruled out any immediate discussions on a merger, stating that the final decision would rest with Sunetra Pawar. He said the party's immediate priority was to strengthen her leadership and ensure her election as national president. The merger issue would be taken up only after the national president is elected, and the decision would be made by her, he added.Addressing the newly elected members of the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti, Walse Patil said, "Whatever talks are going on, I do not want to get into them. After Ajit Pawar's demise, we now have a bigger responsibility before us. I urge all elected members not to indulge in lobbying or become adamant about posts, and to accept whatever responsibility the party assigns."