Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Sunday claimed that a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appeared to be in its final stages, amid renewed political speculation following meetings involving Sharad Pawar and senior leaders of the rival groups.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion of Diwali, Shirsat said political developments were unfolding as he had anticipated and that the roles of various leaders would soon become clear.
"I have said earlier that there would be some political developments, and we can see them happening. The only thing we need to see is which party merges with which. I think the developments are in their final stages, and the roles of various people will soon be decided," Shirsat said.
His remarks came a day after Parth Pawar, son of late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and general secretary of the NCP, met NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar at his south Mumbai residence.
Parth and several NCP (SP) leaders visited the veteran politician on Saturday to inquire about his health following his discharge from hospital.
Although the meeting was described as a courtesy visit, it has added to speculation about the possibility of reunification between the two factions.
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐น ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ธ๐
Speculation about a possible merger gained momentum following a recent meeting between senior NCP leader Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar at a hospital in Mumbai.
A video of their interaction circulated widely on social media, showing the two leaders discussing the possibility of another meeting after November 10.
The development attracted attention because Patel was among the senior leaders who sided with Ajit Pawar when the NCP split in 2023.
NCP state president Sunil Tatkare also recently claimed that the two factions would have merged in February this year had Ajit Pawar been alive.
Ajit Pawar, who headed the NCP faction recognised by the Election Commission, died in a plane crash in January.
His death has renewed discussions about the party's leadership and the possibility of bringing together the rival groups that emerged following the split.
However, no formal announcement regarding a merger has been made by either faction.
๐ก๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
The Sharad Pawar-founded NCP split in 2023 after a group of senior leaders, including Praful Patel, joined the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance under Ajit Pawar's leadership.
The Ajit Pawar faction subsequently secured the original party name and election symbol, while the group led by Sharad Pawar came to be known as the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), or NCP (SP).
The two factions have since operated separately, with the Ajit Pawar-led party remaining part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra.
Recent political developments have brought the question of reunification back into focus.
Patel's meeting with Sharad Pawar came against the backdrop of senior NCP leaders meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi without party chief Sunetra Pawar and her sons, Parth and Jay.
The meeting reportedly took place amid concerns within sections of the NCP leadership over Parth Pawar's growing influence in party affairs.
These developments have intensified speculation about possible changes in the party's organisational structure and leadership arrangements.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ผ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ
Shirsat was also asked whether a similar merger could take place between the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
Without directly confirming any discussions between the two factions, the minister said his party remained open to welcoming new entrants.
"If anyone is coming to us, we will welcome them," he said.
The Shiv Sena split in 2022 following a rebellion led by Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.
The Election Commission subsequently recognised the Shinde-led faction as the Shiv Sena and allotted it the party's traditional bow-and-arrow symbol, while the Uddhav-led faction became Shiv Sena (UBT).
Shirsat's remarks indicated his party's willingness to accommodate political leaders seeking to join it, although he did not suggest that formal merger negotiations were underway.
๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
Speaking about the Shiv Sena's Diwali outreach programme, Shirsat said party leaders and workers were visiting households across Maharashtra and distributing essential items to help families celebrate the festival.
He said the initiative was intended to strengthen the party's connection with ordinary citizens beyond the assistance provided through government welfare programmes.
"We provide assistance to common people through the government, but as a party, we are also visiting them so that they feel they have someone of their own to turn to. We have given them some items to help make their festival easier. This is being done across the state," he said.
The minister said the programme was being conducted across different parts of Maharashtra, with party workers reaching out to residents during the festive period.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฑ
Shirsat also criticised Opposition parties for questioning the Maharashtra government's financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to farmers affected by drought.
He said parties objecting to the amount were free to provide additional assistance themselves.
"Rs 5,000 is government assistance, and if the Opposition has a problem with it, it should provide similar assistance," he said.
The minister accused Opposition parties of adopting a similar approach when the government introduced the Ladki Bahin welfare scheme.
"They did the same with the Ladki Bahin scheme. Who stopped them from providing aid? They have not even distributed food items to people as part of their Diwali outreach," Shirsat claimed.
His comments came amid continuing political exchanges over the adequacy of government relief measures and welfare assistance in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, attention remains focused on the possible reunification of the NCP factions, with recent meetings between senior leaders generating expectations of further developments after November 10.
Shirsat's assertion that the merger process was approaching its final stages remains a political assessment, with neither faction having formally confirmed an agreement.