Pawar Faction Merger Speculation Ignites in Maharashtra Politics

These speculations were further fuelled when senior NCP leader Praful Patel met Sharad Pawar at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare then claimed that if Ajit Pawar was alive, the merger of the two factions would have been formalised on 12 February. Meanwhile, Parth Pawar also met Sharad Pawar twice in two days. However, the leaders of the two factions have publicly denied any fresh talks of a merger. However, the question arises whether these are just family meetings or the ground is being prepared for a major change in Maharashtra politics. The fresh speculation of a merger began with NCP national working president Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar meeting. Sharad Pawar was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai at the time. A video of this meeting surfaced on social media. During the conversation between the two leaders, Sharad Pawar is heard saying to sit together after 10 November. Patel also says that after this meeting, the political discussions between the two leaders started to look for a way to merge or to return to Mumbai.