Pawar sets off rumours on his NCP merger with Congress

A quiet rumour is gaining strength over the prospects of Sharad Pawar-led NCP's merger with the parent party, the Congress. Pawar's recent statement that smaller parties with an ideological primer of Congress should come together and, even merge, has given a fillip to such speculation.

- SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI

Reports quoted Pawar as saying that since NCP and Congress follow the Gandhi-Nehru ideology, a future assemblage of his party as well as several smaller groups separated from Congress was possible. However, these reports did not offer any clarity over the NCP merger with the Congress.

Pawar has praised Rahul Gandhi and his acceptance in the Congress. Source said that after three phases of Lok Sabha elections and looking at the prospect of his party and Congress, he appears to have thrown the ball into the Congress court for a reaction.