Rahul-Pawar meet fuels Cong-NCP merger rumour

May 31, 2019 00:26

The meeting in Delhi Thursday between Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar prompted speculation in Maharashtra political circles about a possible merger of the two parties.

State leaders of both the parties, however, said they were unaware if the issue of merger was discussed during the meeting.

Pawar maintained that he and Gandhi discussed matters pertaining to Maharashtra assembly polls, due later this year, and also the drought situation in the state.

Pawar, along with some other leaders, had walked out of the Congress in 1999 over United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin issue and formed the NCP the same year.

The Congress bagged 52 Lok Sabha seats in the recently held general election.

It is falling short by two seats to claim the post of Leader of Opposition in the Lower House.

The NCP won five Lok Sabha seats, including four from Maharashtra.

Pawar tweeted after his meeting with Gandhi, 'Congress President Mr. @RahulGandhi met up with me today at my residence in Delhi. We discussed matters pertaining to the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha Elections and the drought situation in Maharashtra.'

Asked if a possible merger is being discussed, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said there is no such discussion within the party on the issue.

Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan, whose party won just one seat in the state in the recent Lok Sabha polls, said, "When leaders of two political parties meet, politics is discussed. If two parties come together, it helps to avoiddivision of votes. But the issue of merger of two parties indifferent. I have no knowledge about it." -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Raisi's Instagram post urges Iranians to pray for him

Raisi's condition currently remains unknown, Iranian state news agency IRNA has reported, after the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in the country's East Azerbaijan Province.

In Pictures - City make history! 4th straight EPL title secured

Manchester City celebrate unprecedented fourth successive league title

KKR await SRH in Qualifier 1; RR face RCB in Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals paid the price for their shoddy show during the business end as a washout of their final IPL league game

In Pictures - Sunrisers demolish Punjab Kings to finish second

Images from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium, Hyderabad, on Sunday.

Gopi Thotakura becomes first Indian space tourist on Blue Origin

Thotakura was selected as one of the six crew members for the NS-25 mission, making him the first Indian space tourist and the second Indian to venture into space after the Indian Army's Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.