NCP Factions' Merger Talks at Preliminary Stage: Chhagan Bhujbal

Maharashtra minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday said that talks between the two factions of the NCP are only at a preliminary stage. No final decision has been taken in this matter. He said that any merger will require the consent of the allies besides discussing with the party leadership. India Today reported that Bhujbal said that the coming together of the two factions of the NCP is the desire of many leaders, but the question is how it will happen and who will take the initiative. He said that there have been talks between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar on this issue, but no final agreement has been reached yet. Bhujbal said that he has also received information about the talks between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, but it has not been finalised yet. He said that it is just a matter of discussion at the moment and it is also not clear what is the stand of the NCP (SP) after Bhujbal was admitted to the hospital.