Mumbai, March 31 (IANS) Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and Member of Parliament Sunil Tatkare on Tuesday addressed swirling rumours regarding the party’s potential merger with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, clarifying that while he was aware of the discussions, the context had changed entirely following Ajit Pawar’s passing.

In an interview with a Marathi channel, Tatkare said a merger between the two NCP factions was in its final stages before Ajit Pawar’s death.

He criticised the timing of certain leaders who gave interviews about the merger while Ajit Pawar’s body was still at the Vidya Pratishthan for the last rites.

“It’s not that I was opposed to the merger; I was fully aware of the developments,” he said, adding that a merger while Ajit Pawar was alive is vastly different from one after his passing.

“The entire scenario changed. While some claimed the merger was in the final stages, none of them suggested appointing Sunetra Pawar as the leader during those talks,” he noted.

Reaffirming the party’s current position, Tatkare questioned the logistics of such a move. “I asked in Karad, which party is merging into which? We are currently with the National Democratic Alliance, standing alongside the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.

Tatkare added that he chose to remain silent during the initial days of mourning to maintain composure, despite political narratives being spun through “so-called videos” and interviews at the time.

During the interview, Tatkare shared insights into his journey from the Congress to the NCP, his deep-rooted friendship with the late Ajit Pawar, and the uphill task of leading the party in his absence.

He said the loss of Ajit Pawar was not just political, but deeply personal.

He noted that since 1999, he had never missed celebrating Pawar’s birthday on July 22.

“The upcoming July 22, 2026, will be incredibly painful. It is deeply saddening to realise that Ajit Dada won’t be there for us to wish him. Accepting his absence was the first and greatest challenge for my own heart,” he expressed.

He emphasised that the current priority is to carry forward Ajit Pawar’s vision with unwavering determination.

Addressing the question of leadership, Tatkare revealed that the party reached a collective decision regarding succession.

“The question was what happens to the party after Ajit Dada? While the reality of his passing is an unforgettable tragedy, the vacancy had to be filled. Recognising her long-standing support and partnership with Ajit Dada, we collectively felt that Sunetra Pawar (Vahini) should be his successor,” he said.

He clarified that this was a joint decision involving senior leaders like Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, and Chhagan Bhujbal, and that it included securing the necessary approvals from the Chief Minister and the senior BJP leadership.

–IANS

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