Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunetra Pawar has declined to provide a direct response regarding ongoing speculation about a potential merger between the two rival NCP factions. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, she remarked that the situation would become clear with time.
Pawar was addressing the media to announce programmes for the 191st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, scheduled for November 15. When asked by reporters about the possibility of a reunion between the party factions, she acknowledged the public interest in the topic before stating that clarity would emerge eventually.
These remarks follow a series of meetings involving senior NCP leaders, including a recent delegation that met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Reports from News18 noted that Sunetra Pawar and her son, Lok Sabha MP Parth Pawar, were not present at that specific meeting. Additionally, some leaders, including Parth Pawar, have held meetings with NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, though those involved maintained that the discussions were limited to inquiries about his health rather than political matters.
Speculation regarding a merger has gained momentum recently. Senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare told reporters on Friday that the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had supported the idea of reunification and had shared details of a proposed agreement. Tatkare claimed that discussions had taken place and that the process was disrupted following Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash on January 28. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Tuesday that no formal proposal regarding a merger has been communicated to the ruling alliance by either faction.
Key facts
- Sunetra Pawar serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and president of the NCP.
- Late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28.
- Sunil Tatkare claimed a merger formula was agreed upon prior to Ajit Pawar's death.
- Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis stated no formal merger proposal has reached the government.
- Programmes for Birsa Munda's 191st birth anniversary are scheduled for November 15.
Why it matters
The potential reunification of the two NCP factions remains a subject of intense political scrutiny in Maharashtra. As the party holds a position within the state's current ruling alliance—which includes the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena—any structural change would have significant implications for the state’s political landscape. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that any merger process would necessarily involve the ruling alliance, though no formal steps have been taken as of now.
Source: News18, Hindustan Times
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