NCP Factions Clash Over Merger Speculation in Maharashtra
Nationalist Congress Party leaders are divided over reports of a merger between the Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar factions following high-profile meetings in Mumbai.
Speculation of a reunion between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party has intensified following meetings between Sharad Pawar and leaders of the rival NCP faction, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar. The parties split in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-led Mahayuti government; Ajit Pawar later died in a plane crash in January 2026. Current reports suggest some leaders in the NCP are dissatisfied with the influence of Parth Pawar and are seeking a reunion with Sharad Pawar.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the status of these talks. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat and NCP state president Sunil Tatkare suggested a merger is in its final stages, with Tatkare claiming a deal would have been finalized in February 2026 had Ajit Pawar lived. Conversely, NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil dismissed the meetings as personal family gatherings during Diwali.
MLA Rohit Pawar has explicitly denied that any merger discussions are occurring within the NCP (SP), stating that neither Sharad Pawar nor Supriya Sule has discussed an alignment with the BJP. He characterized the rumors as an attempt to shape a political narrative. Separately, Rohit Pawar criticized the investigation into Ajit Pawar's death and announced a presentation in Mumbai on November 14-15 to address the probe's failures.
