MUMBAI, June 13 -- Amid speculation over a merger between the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC), talk of a merger between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Congress has gained traction. Congress insiders claimed the party had received feelers from the NCP (SP) leadership but no formal discussions had taken place. While NCP (SP) national working president Supriya Sule and state unit chief Shashikant Shinde dismissed reports of any such proposal, former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole suggested that efforts were underway to prevent a division of secular votes. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, described the Congress as a "sinking ship", saying seasoned regional leaders would have little incentive to associate with it. A merger of any regional party with the Congress would, in fact, create greater political space for the BJP, he said. Talk of a merger come amid reports that five to six NCP (SP) MPs are warming up to the BJP, raising concerns about possible defections. On Thursday, three NCP (SP) MLAs - Uttam Jankar, Abhijeet Patil and Narayan Patil - attended a meeting chaired by Solapur guardian minister Jaykumar Gore and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan, in connection with the upcoming legislative council elections. Jankar even declared support to the ruling Mahayuti alliance's candidate, claiming he had been "betrayed" over the selection of a legislative council candidate. Patole said today, "A proposal for the merger had been made by Pawar saheb but a decision was delayed. Now, considering what is happening in the country's politics and the gradual deterioration of the constitutional system, a process has begun to bring all secular parties together." However, state NCP (SP) chief Shashikant Shinde said, "Neither our party nor the Congress has made any such proposal." "NCP (SP) leadership has sent feelers to the party but it has not reached the discussion level. We also need to see the conditions that will accompany the proposal. In my view, the party leadership will respond positively," said a Congress insider....