In a press conference in Baramati on Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar refused to confirm or deny ongoing talks for a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), stating that reporters would be informed when the time was right. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that up to 22 MLAs from Sunetra's NCP may defect and join or form a new party ahead of the elections. The potential merger has been fueled by discontent within Sunetra's faction, with senior leaders voicing concerns over key appointments made by her son, Parth Pawar.
The speculation about a possible reunion between the two NCP factions resurfaced in recent weeks, following meetings between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior leaders from Sunetra's faction in Delhi. Disagreements over the leadership of the party have grown as Sunetra and her son Parth Pawar took control after Ajit Pawar, who had led the opposing faction, passed away earlier this year. The NCP split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar broke away from Sharad Pawar to join Maharashtra's ruling coalition, with Sunetra now leading the NCP, a partner in the BJP-led Mahayuti, while Sharad heads the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
NCP leader Sunil Tatkare has denied that any merger talks are currently underway, but he suggested that the two sides would have reunited had Ajit been alive. The BJP-led alliance will be consulted if the NCP factions decide to proceed with a merger. As the situation develops, the potential reunion of the Pawar family and the possible defection of MLAs could significantly impact the political landscape in Maharashtra ahead of the upcoming elections.