Baramati (Maharashtra): NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday asserted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had no role in the merger discussions between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party and therefore had no authority to comment on the matter.

Addressing reporters in Baramati, the former Union minister said the talks were being handled by senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and his nephew, NCP president Ajit Pawar.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28.

Following his death, Sharad Pawar and other leaders from the NCP (SP) stated that reunification talks between the rival factions had reached an advanced stage, with Ajit Pawar having finalised February 12 as the date for the announcement.

However, Chief Minister Fadnavis later said that if merger discussions were indeed underway, Ajit Pawar would have informed him about them.

Reacting to the Chief Minister’s remarks, Sharad Pawar said, "I do not understand, what right does he have to mention my name? As he was nowhere in the merger talks, he has no right to comment on it."

He reiterated that the discussions were being led by Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar.

When asked whether the merger would still go ahead, Sharad Pawar said the immediate focus was on mutual support before taking any further decisions.

"As far as political discussions are concerned, we are not talking to anyone," he added.

Responding to a query on the appointment of Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra as deputy chief minister after his death, Sharad Pawar said it was a moment of happiness and satisfaction that she had been given the opportunity to serve in the role.

He also said he was unaware of any plans to build a memorial for Ajit Pawar at Vidya Pratishtan, the educational institution established by the Pawar family in Baramati.

"I have read about it in the newspapers. There has been no discussion on it yet. We will sit together and decide," he said.

Earlier, Kiran Gujar, a close aide of Ajit Pawar and a trusted associate of the Pawar family, had said that the memorial was being planned at the Vidya Pratishtan premises, where the late NCP leader’s last rites were conducted.

PTI