Amid renewed speculation over a possible merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party factions, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs belonging to the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP could break away from the party at any time.
Speaking to reporters, Raut suggested that recent meetings between NCP legislators and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar were politically significant and should not be dismissed as casual interactions.
He claimed that the legislators were exploring their options following the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
"20 to 22 MLAs of Sunetra Pawar's party can break away anytime....If they return to their parental home (Sharad Pawar-led NCP), then it is not a merger. Or they may join some other party before the polls," Raut said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader further alleged that NCP legislators had been reduced to "being slaves" following Ajit Pawar's death.
His remarks came amid discussions over the possibility of reunification between the two NCP factions, which have remained politically separated since the party's split.
𝗥𝗮𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀' 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that any merger involving the NCP could not take place without consultations with the BJP.
Responding to the statement, Raut maintained that the condition could not apply to the Sharad Pawar-led party.
He indicated that legislators returning to Sharad Pawar's faction would not necessarily constitute a formal merger between the two political organisations.
Raut's claims have added to the political speculation surrounding the future of the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP and its relationship with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
However, there was no immediate independent confirmation of his assertion that 20 to 22 legislators were preparing to leave the party.
𝗚𝗼𝗸𝘂𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝘄
Raut also criticised developments surrounding the election of the chairman of Gokul Dairy, a prominent milk cooperative based in Kolhapur, describing the episode as detrimental to democracy.
NCP leader Rajesh Patil, a candidate backed by the ruling Mahayuti alliance, won the controversial chairman election on Tuesday after the Maharashtra government nominated four additional directors with voting rights to the dairy's board.
Raut alleged that ministers belonging to the ruling alliance had stooped to a low level during the election process and warned that political circumstances could change.
"All days are not same in politics," he said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP claimed that victory had been snatched from the panel led by Congress MLC Satej Patil, which had secured a majority in the cooperative's election last month.
He questioned the government's decision to nominate additional directors, alleging that the move had altered the outcome of the chairman election.
Responding to Fadnavis' statement that he was supporting Gokul Dairy as an institution rather than any particular individual, Raut argued that the chief minister would not have introduced a law allowing the appointment of four government-nominated directors if that were the case.
The controversy has intensified political tensions between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition over the administration of cooperative institutions in Maharashtra.