New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) In the midst of rumors regarding a potential merger between the two factions of the NCP, Maharashtra's unit chief Sunil Tatkare declared on Wednesday that the party firmly stands with the NDA and intends to remain part of it in the future.

When questioned about the party's position on a possible merger, Tatkare stated: "What is there to discuss about our stance? We are in the NDA. During the lifetime of Dada (Ajit Pawar), I made our position clear multiple times -- we collectively decided to join the NDA under his guidance. This decision was valid yesterday, is valid today, and will continue to be so in the future. Therefore, it is up to others to clarify their intentions about joining the NDA."

Tatkare reiterated that Ajit Pawar had always supported the idea of being in alliance with the BJP since 2014/2019, and the party remains devoted to the NDA arrangement.

He made these comments while accompanying Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and party leader Sunetra Pawar during courtesy meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.

Regarding a merger or any other developments, Tatkare noted, “Vahini (Sunetra Pawar) has taken on the Deputy Chief Minister's responsibilities. Our party's decision was unanimously supported by all legislative members. Senior leaders, including Praful Patel, myself as State President, Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, and all our senior colleagues in the Cabinet, collectively agreed that she should lead the legislative party. We made this selection collectively.”

When asked if they would welcome the Sharad Pawar faction should they choose to join the NDA, Tatkare sidestepped a direct answer.

“How can I comment on hypotheticals? It is widely recognized that since 2014 or 2019, the late Ajit Dada advocated being in government with the BJP. He expressed this clearly during all NCP meetings at that time. Even in 2019, during the oath-taking ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Ajit Dada was clear: he believed that a two-party coalition -- specifically BJP and NCP -- would more effectively drive Maharashtra’s progress than a three-party configuration,” he emphasized.

Tatkare continued: “In 2023, when no consensus was reached about joining the BJP despite ongoing discussions within the party, we adhered to the philosophy of the late Yashwantrao Chavan -- that to serve the interests of the Bahujan community, one must hold power. Nevertheless, our participation in the NDA was anchored in our foundational secular ideology and the social equality principles of Shivaji–Shahu–Phule–Ambedkar. This commitment will certainly persist moving forward.”

Additionally, NCP sources indicated that after the unexpected passing of Ajit Pawar, discussions about merging with the Sharad Pawar faction have not taken place, making the likelihood of such a merger increasingly unlikely.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar, who was also in New Delhi, postponed his press conference scheduled for February 12, which was intended to provide updates on the merger discussions between the two NCP factions and future steps.

In a post on X, Rohit Pawar stated: “The inquiry into the unfortunate accidental death of Ajitdada is of great significance to us, and to ensure it progresses appropriately, I have initiated some meetings. As a result, the press conference scheduled for February 12 on political matters must be postponed. Once the inquiry into Ajitdada is resolved, a political press conference will be held soon, and you will be informed two days in advance.”