Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) working president Supriya Sule on Saturday said the merger issue would “now be put to rest”, as her cousin Ajit Pawar passed away.
In January this year Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati in Pune. Following his death, his wife Sunetra Pawar took charge of the party faction.
There was no call or formal proposal from the opposition camp to form a joint force, said Sule, who said they had received no contact on that matter via phone, note, text or email.
She confirmed talks had been held about a possible unity apart from Ajit Pawar, and that a date for such unity and merger had been talked about by leaders from both parties.
Nevertheless, in her mind, heart and party, the death of Ajit came as a ‘full stop’ to the merger proposal, Sule said.
During this unwanted focus on speculation about a possible meeting, the Baramati MP also voiced his dismay at the number of questions which were being raised and instead wanted attention to be paid to significant matters and key legislation on important national issues.
She highlighted that the Parliament is continuing to debate and discuss various issues including the F. C. R. Act and the proposed One Nation One Election scheme in various committees of the Joint Parliamentary Committees.
Voting strength in India has increased a lot and on delimitation, Sule said her party was also ready with “one principle” extend a uniform increase of 50 per cent in the number of seats for parliament across the states from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
The Centre invited leaders, such as Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, for conversations over the proposed delimitation plan, she said.