Sunil Tatkare defends meeting Sharad Pawar, dismisses merger and defection rumours

Mumbai, Nov 12 (UNI) In a robust political defence that bridges divides along party lines, Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) State President Sunil Tatkare, MP, on Thursday made it clear that visiting an ailing Sharad Pawar is a matter of basic cultural duty, while aggressively shooting down rumours of party splits and potential mergers. Tatkare's remarks come amidst heightened political buzz in Maharashtra following reports that several Ajit Pawar-faction MLAs sought an appointment to meet the veteran leader. Defending lawmakers who reportedly sought to meet the NCP founder, Tatkare remarked, "Pawar saheb is our deity who shaped our political…