Athawale Suggests NCP Merge with BJP Instead of Congress

Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (Athawale faction), said on Saturday, he himself had advised Pawar in the past to merge his party with the Congress. However, he believes that the Congress has no strength left now. Athawale quipped that instead of going to the Congress, he should come to the NDA. He also said that if Pawar has any problem with the BJP, he can merge his party with the RPI.