NEW DELHI: Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel on Friday said the party’s immediate focus was on consolidating its organisation and rallying behind Maharashtra deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar, who is set to assume charge as the NCP’s national president in the coming fortnight following the death of Ajit Pawar.Patel said Sunetra Pawar is the sole candidate for the post and will formally take over as party chief after the completion of internal procedures. “Our priority is to stand together, rally behind Sunetra Pawar and complete the organisational process. We will also focus on strengthening the party’s base in the state in the coming period,” he said, acording to news agency PTI.

The NCP working president declined to comment on speculation about a possible merger between the party and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), saying the focus remained firmly on organisational consolidation rather than political realignments.Patel said the emphasis on rebuilding the party structure follows its recent performance in local body elections, citing a strong showing in the Pune Zilla Parishad and gains in other district councils, including Kolhapur, as well as successes in several panchayat samitis.The remarks come days after NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said in New Delhi that merger discussions had been underway with Ajit Pawar before his sudden death, but added that there was no point in pursuing the matter now.Patel and Sunetra Pawar recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan in New Delhi, further fuelling political speculation, though party leaders have insisted that their immediate priority remains organisational stability.