India, Feb. 3 -- In the midst of claims and counter-claims on the merger between the two NCP factions, leaders of the NCP (SP) claimed that the tie-up was on the verge of being finalised soon, and that the top BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, had green-lit the move.

Details of the talks first emerged when NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar revealed two days ago that the merger was set to be announced on February 12. According to NCP (SP) insiders, NCP chief Ajit Pawar first spoke to Shah about the merger during his visit to Ahilyanagar, where he inaugurated a unit of the Pravara Sugar Factory on October 5. Shah then purportedly spoke to the PM, following which a go-ahead was given on ...