India, Jan. 31 -- Days after the passing of his nephew in a plane crash in Maharashtra's Baramati, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar claimed on Saturday that his nephew was in favour of the two party factions reuniting.

According to Sharad Pawar, Ajit and MLA Jayant Patil were engaged in merger talks, adding that he himself also wanted both sides to come together. "There were talks on merger and Ajit was of the view that on February 12 should be the date for the merger," Sharad Pawar said.

"Unfortunately Ajit Pawar's plane crash has halted merger talks," Pawar further said.

The NCP factions split up in July 2023 as Ajit Pawar walked away with more than 40 of the NCP's 54 MLAs to join the BJP-led Mahayuti government. ...