Kiran Gujar, Member of Vidya Prathisthan and close associate of the Pawar family, said late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister's last wish was to meagre to factions of National Congress Party (NCP). Speaking to the media after immersion of ashes of Ajit Pawar by his sons Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar at Sangam, said, "It was 'Dada's' last wish that this (merger of two factions of NCP) should happen."
Kiran Gujar, who has been associated with Ajit Pawar since before his entry into politics in the mid-1980s, told the media today (January 30) that Ajit Dada confided in him about this only five days before the Baramati fatal plane crash on Wednesday.
"He was hundred per cent keen on merging both the factions. He had told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger was imminent in the next few days," Gujar said.
"All should be united. Talks about this were happening throughout the family. In my last phone call with them, he had asked me for some election-related papers," he added.
During the recent civic polls, which the two factions contested in alliance, Ajit Pawar had also told select journalists that he intended to merge his party with the NCP (SP) while his uncle Sharad Pawar was in good health.
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After contesting the January 15 civic elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together, the two factions decided to continue the tie-up for the next month's Zilla Parishad elections too.
Gujar said that Ajit Dada had a roadmap ready for the merger and future course of the united NCP. Asked whether he had discussed the issue with Sharad Pawar, Gujar said "positive talks were underway with Pawar saheb, Supriya Tai (Supriya Sule) and other leaders", and there were indications that the senior Pawar would endorse the move.
Gujar, who has been associated with the Pawar family for over 40 years, remained with Ajit Pawar through his various political phases and was considered his close confidant.