Stir in Mumbai's political circles as Sharad Pawar meets Eknath Shinde

MUMBAI: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar visited deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s office in Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday, creating a stir in Mumbai’s political circles.Shinde was said to have left the state cabinet meeting early to meet Pawar. He greeted Pawar in his office, and the two were said to have had a conversation. Separately, Congress Working Committee member (special invitee) Arif Naseem Khan had a 45-minute closed-door meeting with Pawar, probably, to gauge the veteran neta’s political mood, Congress insiders said.Pawar was in the state legislature to attend a meeting of the high-powered committee on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Pawar also chaired a meeting of NCP (SP) legislators and met Shiv Sena Legislative Council deputy chairperson Sachin Ahir, who recently switched over from the Sena (UBT) to Shinde’s Sena.“I met Sharad Pawar after receiving a phone call from him. I told him that I would visit him. Leaders of his stature, who have contributed to both the state and the country, deserve our respect, and it is important to seek their blessings. That is why I visited him after his call,” Ahir said.Meanwhile, Congress insiders believe that the rumours of the NCP (SP) joining hands with the Mahayuti may be closer to reality than they appeared, and said the Congress was making every effort to position itself to reclaim the political space currently occupied by Pawar’s party in such a scenario.While Khan declined to comment on the discussions during the meeting, he said the MVA’s plans to launch statewide agitations over the govt’s alleged failure to fulfil promises made to farmers and the deteriorating law-and-order situation were among the topics discussed in the meeting.Commenting on speculation surrounding a possible merger of Sharad Pawar’s party, Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal said discussions and rumours were circulating, but he had no information on the matter. He added that Pawar’s party remained a constituent of the INDIA alliance and reiterated the Congress’s position that all forces fighting against the BJP should remain together.Recently, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil met with BJP’s Vinod Tawde, which led to rumours that Sharad Pawar’s party was exploring the possibility of joining the BJP-led NDA.Congress sources stated that the party’s state leadership strongly opposed NCP (SP)’s merger with the Congress, and instead floated the idea o fwelcoming their party functionaries if they wanted to join the Congress at the group or individual levels.Deputy CMs Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, ministers Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai, Pawar, MP Narayan Rane and other MLAs and MLCs were present for the Maharashtra-Karnataka border committee’s meeting.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Mumbai | Silver Rate in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Petrol Price in Mumbai | Diesel Price in Mumbai | CNG Price in Mumbai | LPG Price in MumbaiStay updated with the latest Mumbai news. Download the TOI App.