Shashikant Shinde Swears on Ajit Pawar's Ashes, Contradicts Fadnavis on NCP Merger Talks

• Shashikant Shinde, from the Sharadchandra Pawar faction, claimed merger talks with Ajit Pawar were ongoing, swearing on Ajit Pawar's ashes.
• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had stated Ajit Pawar would have informed him if merger discussions were happening, implying they were not.
• Shinde asserted that Ajit Pawar had confirmed discussing the merger with 'seniors' and made his decision.
• The dispute over the NCP merger has intensified significantly after Ajit Pawar's passing, with both factions presenting conflicting narratives.
• Shinde clarified that his faction is not trying to gain political advantage from Ajit Pawar's demise, but is stating facts about the discussions.

Why It Matters: Shashikant Shinde's emotional oath on Ajit Pawar's ashes directly challenges Fadnavis's claim regarding NCP merger talks.