Time for NCP to merge with Congress: Dr Patangrao Kadam

State minister of forests Dr Patangrao Kadam said on Thursday that it is the right time for NCP president Sharad Pawar to merge his party with the Congress.

Interestingly, Kadam reiterated his statement in the presence of chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Manikrao Thakare. With a smile, Chavan seconded the proposal and said, "Kadam has made this suggestion with good intentions." However, Thakare made it clear that it was Kadam's personal opinion.

Four independent MLAs including Suresh Jethlia, Shirish Choudhary, Vasantrao Patil-Chavan and Jaikumar Gore were inducted into the party by Thakare in presence of the CM, former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Kadam. All the four MLAs were independents supporting the Congress in the House. Thakare and Chavan announced that the MLAs would be given tickets by the party for the ensuing assembly elections.

When asked about his statement, Kadam reiterated it and said, "It is high time that Pawar decides to merge his party with the Congress. History shows that when NCP goes for an alliance with the Congress, NCP-defectors spell trouble for the Congress during polls. Later, such rebel NCP leaders are rewarded by the Pawar-led party by making them directors of cooperative banks or giving them important posts. The NCP should stop this and merge with the Congress."