NCP Merger Buzz Grows After Separate Meetings With CM Fadnavis; Is Sharad Pawar Set for a Political Realignment?

Mumbai: Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz with speculation after senior leaders from both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) held separate meetings with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, fueling reports of a possible reunification of the party and a broader political realignment.

The purpose of the meetings, held at the Chief Minister’s official residence on Tuesday, has not been officially disclosed. However, the developments have triggered discussions about whether the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) could eventually align with the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

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According to reports, senior NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jayant Patil met Chief Minister Fadnavis on Tuesday evening. Shortly afterward, senior leaders from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, including Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel, also met the Chief Minister separately.

The meetings come amid ongoing speculation about a possible merger of the two NCP factions. Earlier, Jayant Patil’s meeting with senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde had also sparked political discussions.

Sources quoted in media reports claim that a significant section of legislators and Members of Parliament from Sharad Pawar’s faction may be in favour of joining the ruling alliance. However, Sharad Pawar has not made any official statement regarding such a move, and there has been no confirmation from any of the parties involved.

Meanwhile, reports have also highlighted internal organisational differences within the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Party National Secretary Sachidanand Singh has reportedly challenged the appointment of Sunetra Pawar as the party’s national president through a legal notice, alleging that the organisational election was not conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Earlier, questions were also raised over discrepancies in the list of office-bearers submitted to the Election Commission, although the party later described the issue as a technical error. Senior leader Praful Patel dismissed reports of any internal rift, insisting that the party remains united and that internal issues would be resolved within the organisation.

The political developments trace back to July 2023, when the undivided NCP split after Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-led Mahayuti government along with a section of MLAs. The Election Commission subsequently recognised Ajit Pawar’s faction as the official NCP, while Sharad Pawar launched a separate party under the name Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).

Although speculation over a reunion of the two factions has surfaced repeatedly in recent months, no official decision has been announced. The latest meetings have once again intensified political debate, but the future course of events remains uncertain.