Fresh speculation over a merger between the two NCP factions has emerged after Praful Patel met Sharad Pawar at a Mumbai hospital and Sunil Tatkare said the merger would have happened in February if Ajit Pawar were alive. Mumbai, Nov 6 (PTI) Amid a viral video of Praful Patel visiting NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at a hospital and discussing a possible meeting after November 10, ruling NCP's Maharashtra president.