Sharad Pawar should join NDA instead of merging his party with Congress: Ramdas Athawale

Union Minister and Republican Party of India Athawale chief Ramdas Athawale on Saturday suggested that Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar president Sharad Pawar should consider joining the BJPled National Democratic Alliance NDA rather than merging his party with the CongressAthawales remarks come amid renewed political speculation over the possibility of Opposition parties consolidating around the Congress in an effort to strengthen their challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP at the national levelAthawale rejects merger with CongressSpeaking to reporters Athawale said that while he had earlier advised Pawar to merge his party with the Congress the political situation had changed considerably over timeAccording to the Union minister the Congress no longer possesses the organisational strength it once enjoyed and therefore may not be the ideal platform for political realignmentI had advised Sharad Pawar in the past to merge his party with the Congress But the Congress does not have the strength it once had Athawale saidHe argued that Pawar would be better served by aligning with the NDA instead of joining hands with the CongressSuggests joining NDA or RPIAthawale went on to invite the veteran Maharashtra leader to become part of the NDAIn a lighter vein he added that if Pawar was uncomfortable joining the BJP directly he could consider merging his party with the Republican Party of India Athawale factionInstead of going to the Congress he should come to the NDA If he has a problem with the BJP then he should merge with the RPI Athawale saidThe comments are the latest in a series of statements by political leaders responding to discussions surrounding Opposition unity and possible party mergersDebate triggered by Sanjay Rauts remarksThe issue gained attention after Shiv Sena UBT leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut recently advocated greater Opposition unityRaut suggested that parties which were originally formed after breaking away from the Congress should consider returning to the parent organisation in order to build a stronger political alternative to the BJPHe specifically referred to the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar and the Trinamool Congress as parties that could explore such a possibilityCall for Sharad Pawar to lead Opposition consolidationRaut had further argued that Sharad Pawar one of the countrys most experienced political leaders should take the initiative in bringing smaller Opposition parties together under a common platformAccording to the Shiv Sena UBT leader a broader Opposition realignment could help create a stronger challenge to the BJP in future electionsHis remarks sparked political debate particularly in Maharashtra where Opposition parties continue to explore strategies to strengthen their position against the ruling allianceWest Bengal developments fuel political discussionsThe conversation around Opposition unity has intensified following the recent West Bengal Assembly elections where the Trinamool Congress suffered a major setbackPolitical observers believe the results have prompted fresh discussions among Opposition leaders regarding organisational restructuring alliances and potential mergersWhile there has been no official indication from either the Congress or the NCP SP regarding a merger the speculation has continued to generate political reactions from leaders across party linesOpposition realignment remains a subject of debateAthawales remarks underscore the differing views within Indias political landscape on the future of Opposition politicsWhile some leaders advocate a larger antiBJP coalition centred around the Congress others believe regional parties may be better positioned pursuing alternative political arrangementsFor now neither the Congress nor the NCP SP has formally commented on the suggestions made by Athawale or the merger proposals floated by Opposition leadersAs political discussions continue the possibility of alliances mergers and realignments is likely to remain a key topic ahead of future electoral contests at both the state and national levelsWith inputs from PTI