Mumbai, March 31 (NationPress) Sunil Tatkare, president of the Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Member of Parliament, addressed the ongoing speculation about a merger with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP. He emphasized that although he was informed about the merger talks, the situation has significantly changed after the demise of Ajit Pawar.

In a recent interview aired on a Marathi channel, Tatkare mentioned that the merger discussions were nearing completion prior to Ajit Pawar's passing.

He criticized certain leaders for discussing the merger publicly while Ajit Pawar's body was still present at Vidya Pratishthan for his final rites.

“I have never opposed the merger; I was well aware of the progress,” he stated, underlining that a merger during Ajit Pawar’s life is fundamentally different from one that occurs posthumously.

“The circumstances have transformed. While some indicated that the merger was nearly finalized, none suggested appointing Sunetra Pawar as a leader during those conversations,” he remarked.

Reiterating the party's current stance, Tatkare raised questions about the practicality of such a merger. “I inquired in Karad, which party is merging into which? We are presently aligned with the National Democratic Alliance, alongside the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he explained.

Tatkare further mentioned that he chose to remain quiet during the mourning period to uphold dignity, despite political narratives being circulated through “so-called videos” and interviews at that time.

During the interview, Tatkare reflected on his transition from Congress to NCP, his enduring friendship with the late Ajit Pawar, and the challenging path ahead in his absence.

He expressed that Ajit Pawar's loss is both a political blow and a personal sorrow.

Since 1999, he has consistently celebrated Pawar’s birthday on July 22.

“The forthcoming July 22, 2026, will be tremendously painful. It is heart-wrenching to realize that Ajit Dada will not be there for us to wish him. Accepting his absence has been my heart's first and greatest challenge,” he shared.

Tatkare asserted that the main focus is to uphold Ajit Pawar’s vision with steadfast resolve.

When discussing leadership, Tatkare disclosed that the party made a collective decision about succession.

“The pivotal question was what happens to the party after Ajit Dada? While his passing is an unforgettable tragedy, we had to address the leadership void. Acknowledging her longstanding support and partnership with Ajit Dada, we collectively agreed that Sunetra Pawar (Vahini) should succeed him,” he noted.

He clarified that this was a joint decision made in consultation with senior leaders such as Praful Patel, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, and Chhagan Bhujbal, ensuring that necessary approvals were secured from the Chief Minister and senior BJP leadership.