NCP rules out merger with Congress

NCP today ruled out merger with Congress with its supremo Sharad Pawar disapproving of a suggestion in this regard by senior leader Ratnakar Mahajan.

Maharashtra NCP President Madhukar Pichad told a press conference that he had spoken to Pawar about Mahajan's letter in which he suggested that the 12-year-old organisation should merge with Congress.

"Pawar, who is currently abroad, has disapproved of Mahajan's action of writing such a letter which is aimed at hurting the party, and leaking it to the media," he said.

Home Minister and NCP leader R R Patil was also present at the press conference.

Pichad said the party has decided not to take cognisance of the letter. Hence contemplating action against Mahajan does not arise.

Patil said Mahajan was "free to merge anywhere", but there was no question of NCP merging with any other party.

"Mahajan is just a party worker and he has no authority to raise such issues in public and tell the party leadership of what it should do," Pichad and Patil said.

Pichad said he has received a copy of the letter which Mahajan, former Chairman of the State Planning Board, had written to Pawar, who had left Congress to float NCP in 1998.