'NCP merger talks a laughing stock, damaging Sharad Pawar's image'

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday took a dig at the NCP merger talks calling it a 'merger game' that had now become a ridiculous laughing stock. The Sena (UBT) in an editorial in Saamna, also slammed NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar saying when Sharad Pawar's party (NCP-SP) is in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and INDIA bloc, such discussions are damaging Sharad Pawar's image. The editorial said it is not in keeping with the tradition of the state that Sharad Pawar should sit in discussions with a group that is BJP's lapdog and create an atmosphere of confusion and suspicion in Maharashtra. “There may be 2-4 people in Sharad Pawar's party who are eager for ministerial posts. It is not good that Sharad Pawar should destroy the principles of his life that he has followed for so many years. The next question is who will merge with whom in this game. It is not in keeping with the tradition of the state that Sharad Pawar should sit in discussions with a group that is BJP's lapdog and create an atmosphere of confusion and suspicion in Maharashtra. Netas like Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, Shashikant Shinde should not get carried away in this game. Even the waves flow like this. The game of merger is becoming ridiculous day by day,” the editorial said.

The editorial said NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has announced that the curtain has fallen on this merger drama but characters and players in the merger drama are not ready to accept Supriya's words. The Amit Shah-sponsored NCP faction has no ideological leaning and they are all traders. Looking at the games of marketers like Hasan Mushrif in Gokul, Sharad Pawar should not even discuss with such marketers. They have become power-hungry by throwing the thoughts of Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar, Yashwantrao Chavan in the trash…The NCP in power is now in trouble. (Praful Patel and (Sunil) Tatkare have to work under the leadership of Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar. Patel and Tatkare's leader is now 'Parth', and their infighting has started. Patel and Tatkare consider Amit Shah as their leader, but the leader of the NCP is now Parth Pawar. What to do now?” The editorial said.