NCP should consider merging with Cong: Chavan

New Delhi: After sorting out seat-sharing differences, NCP and Congress are fully geared for the Maharashtra Assembly polls. However, state Chief Minister Ashok Chavan may be creating another controversy. He has told CNN-IBN that Sharad Pawar's party should merge with the Congress after the polls.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You yourself had said the other day that the NCP should merge with the Congress. Do you believe that the time has come for the NCP to seriously think about the merger?

Ashok Chavan: You see I was reacting to one of the questions raised to me by one of the journalists, I have only told them that see this is my personal view.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Your personal view is that the NCP should merge with the Congress?

Ashok Chavan: Mr Digvijay Singh has expressed the wish and as an opinion I was asked whether I subscribe to that, I said yes, I do agree with the views. When Sharad Pawar formed the NCP, one of the issues why it was formed was the origin of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. I said now since they have joined the Government under the leadership of UPA Chairman Sonia Gandhi, these issues are no more relevant.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So would you like NCP to merge with the Congress? After the election would you like to see the merger of NCP and Congress, will that strengthen the Congress?

Ashok Chavan: The secular forces coming together is the need of the hour and if the things have to consolidate further, I think this question which you have raised may just be valid in the long run. We see it as what will help in strengthening the secular forces.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So are you saying that it will strengthen the Congress in the long term if the NCP merges with the Congress? That would strengthen the Congress in Maharashtra?

Ashok Chavan: The NCP was always the part of Congress earlier let us not forget that. The NCP has never been a separate party which grew on its own. It just separated itself from the Congress, so its nothing new for the Congress.

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