Rajya Sabha MP and NCP leader Parth Pawar visited NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar (Express file photo).

Following a recent verbal feud between the BJP and Shiv Sena , key Mahayuti alliance partners Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena have now locked horns. The NCP has taken strong exception to Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat’s claim regarding a possible merger of the two NCP factions , urging the NCP to question why the two Shiv Sena factions do not merge instead.

The fresh rift within the ruling coalition erupted after Shirsat claimed on Sunday that a merger between the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) appeared to be in its final stages.

Reacting strongly to Shirsat’s statements, NCP national spokesperson Umesh Patil issued a video message questioning the Shiv Sena’s stance. Patil questioned why the Eknath Shinde -led Shiv Sena does not consider merging with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). “If the two decide to merge, who will be the president?…