Supriya Sule said discussions on the merger of the two NCPs were on when Ajit Pawar was alive
After Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on Jan 28, senior leaders of his party had denied holding any meetings with the Sharad Pawar-led party to discuss a merger.
Pune: NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Thursday ruled out any merger between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the rival party led by the late Ajit Pawar , saying she had decided to “draw the curtains” on the issue following her cousin’s death and had received no fresh merger proposal. It ended with my cousin’s death,” she said. Responding to Shiv Sena neta Sanjay Shirsat’s suggestion that a third faction could emerge in NCP, Mushrif said attempts were being made to weaken the party after Ajit Pawar’s death.
“The day my cousin died, and following the developments that unfolded a few days after his death, I decided to draw the curtains on the issue of merger. I do not think I should speak much on the topic. Mushrif added that he would approach deputy CM Eknath Shinde and urge him to caution members of his party (Shiv Sena) against targeting NCP.