India, Feb. 1 -- Soon after Sunetra Pawar, wife of deceased NCP president Ajit Pawar, was on Saturday sworn in as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the bonhomie presented in recent days by both the NCP factions including one led by patriarch Sharad Pawar developed a 'crack' as the latter remarked the process to merge the NCP (SP) and NCP may now face a roadblock due to the death of Ajit Pawar.

Ruing the fact that he got to know from the media that Sunetra was being appointed as Deputy CM of the State, Sharad Pawar said the process to merge the two factions was underway for the past four months under Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil, but now it will be difficult.

"All discussions were held at their level, but it now appear...