Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said that the ongoing discussion regarding the 'merger' of two NCP factions in Maharashtra politics is actually a ploy by the BJP. Through this they want to destabilize the state from behind the scenes.
An editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana' reads, “This experiment of merger is not a simple game, but a complex political chess. Some people are playing this game out of compulsion and some because of their ambition. Keeping knives behind one's back while walking on each other's path and finding a strange thrill in such moves, all this is a kind of entertainment for the Marathi mentality.
On one side are Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, Rohit Pawar and Shashikant Shinde, while on the other side are Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal. All of them are behaving like players and this has started a new discussion of the word ‘merger’.”
In the editorial, BJP has been accused of creating a 'merger' narrative behind the scenes to destabilize Maharashtra, which is not in the interest of the state. In this, leaders like Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Shashikant Shinde have been advised not to get carried away in this game. It also stressed, “Ultimately, playing the merger game is tantamount to political suicide.”
The editorial further said, “An atmosphere of confusion is being created through this game. Both sides act as if they are getting along, but look at each other with suspicion. Someone is sweating, someone is breathing a sigh of relief, but since there is no clear outcome of this game, the audience does not even know when the third bell (i.e. the climax) will ring.”
In this, the frequently raised political discussions of reunification of the two factions of NCP have been made fun of. It has been described as a political game aimed at diverting people's attention and creating confusion and suspicion across the state.
The editorial states that after the change in leadership associated with Parth Pawar, uneasiness has increased among senior leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare in the opposition faction of NCP. It has been said that the new discussions of merger are the result of political uneasiness of these leaders.
The editorial suggested that Sharad Pawar and senior leaders of his faction (including Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Shashikant Shinde) should not fall prey to this political gimmick. Also, Sharad Pawar has been cautioned not to compromise his lifelong ideological stand just to get ministerial berths to some party members who are desperate to become ministers.
According to the editorial, a section of the media and political brokers have taken up the cause of merger, however, NCP (SP) leaders have been warned that joining this merger game will only benefit the BJP and will ruin their own political ground.”