India, Nov. 14 -- Maharashtra minister Dattatray Bharne on Friday said all Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs had agreed to abide by decisions taken by party chief Sunetra Pawar at a recent meeting in Mumbai. He denied that the merger of the two NCP factions was discussed during a meeting at Pawar's Pune residence on Friday, maintaining that the interaction was focused on drought-related issues in their constituencies.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting at Pawar's 'Jijai' residence, which was also attended by her son Parth Pawar and five party MLAs, Bharne said the legislators had gathered primarily to discuss the drought situation.

"There was no party meeting or any political discussion on the merger. The party has not called a...