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Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Sunday said a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appeared to be in its final stages, adding that the roles of various leaders would soon become clear.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of Diwali, Shirsat referred to the recent meeting between NCP general secretary Parth Pawar and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, indicating that political developments were underway.

Parth Pawar, son of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and other NCP leaders met Sharad Pawar at his residence in south Mumbai on Saturday to inquire about his health following his discharge from hospital.

The meeting came amid growing speculation about a possible merger of the two NCP factions. Earlier, a meeting between senior NCP leader Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar at a Mumbai hospital had also fuelled discussions about the possibility. A video of the two leaders discussing a meeting after November 10 had gone viral.

Meanwhile, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare had said that the merger would have taken place in February this year had Ajit Pawar been alive. The former Deputy Chief Minister, who headed the NCP faction, died in a plane crash in January.

“I have said earlier that there would be some political developments, and we can see them happening. The only thing we need to see is which party merges with which. I think the developments are in their final stages, and the roles of various people will soon be decided,” Shirsat said.

Shirsat's remarks come against the backdrop of the NCP's 2023 split, when a group of party leaders, including Praful Patel, joined the ruling Mahayuti coalition under Ajit Pawar's leadership. Subsequently, the Ajit Pawar faction retained the NCP name and party symbol, while the Sharad Pawar-led group came to be known as the NCP (SP).

Praful Patel's recent meeting with Sharad Pawar also came after senior NCP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi without party chief Sunetra Pawar and her sons, Parth and Jay. The meeting had taken place amid reports of dissatisfaction within the NCP leadership over Parth Pawar's growing influence in the party.

Asked whether a merger between the two Shiv Sena factions led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray was also possible, Shirsat said his party was open to welcoming new members.

“If anyone is coming to us, we will welcome them,” he said.

Speaking about the Shiv Sena's Diwali outreach programme, Shirsat said party leaders and workers were visiting people across Maharashtra and distributing essential items to help them celebrate the festival.

“We provide assistance to common people through the government, but as a party, we are also visiting them so that they feel they have someone of their own to turn to. We have given them some items to help make their festival easier. This is being done across the state,” he said.

Shirsat also criticised the Opposition for questioning the state government's financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to drought-hit farmers. He said opposition parties could provide similar assistance if they disagreed with the government's decision.

“Rs 5,000 is government assistance, and if the Opposition has a problem with it, it should provide similar assistance. They did the same with the Ladki Bahin scheme. Who stopped them from providing aid? They have not even distributed food items to people as part of their Diwali outreach,” he claimed.

*With Agency Inputs