Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule has ruled out any possibility of a merger with the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, saying the discussions ended with the death of her cousin, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash earlier this year.
Sule said the proposed reunification of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions was under consideration while Ajit was alive, and a date had even been decided for the merger. However, she maintained that his death brought the discussions to a permanent end, both personally and within her party.
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati in Pune district in January 2026. Following his death, his wife, Sunetra Pawar, took charge of his faction.
Sule also made it clear that her party had received no communication from the rival camp regarding a possible merger. She said there had been no proposal or approach through any channel, including phone calls, WhatsApp messages, SMS, letters or emails.
"As long as my brother was alive, yes, there were discussions about a merger, and a date had been decided. Leaders from both sides have stated this. The day my brother passed away, a full stop was put to the merger in my mind, in my heart, and in our party," the Baramati MP said.
Expressing frustration over repeated questions about the possibility of the two factions coming together, Sule urged the media to shift its attention to significant legislative and national issues.
She pointed to major legislation being brought by the Central government and the ongoing work of Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs), particularly those examining the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' framework.
"The Central government is bringing major bills. While such huge policymaking work is going on, if you ask me questions about that and hold me accountable, I would be genuinely happy. That is why I request with folded hands that I will not answer on this topic again," she said.
Sule backs 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats in principle
Separately, Sule expressed support in principle for a proposal to increase parliamentary seats by 50% across all states as part of the proposed delimitation exercise.
She disclosed that the Centre had invited her, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi for a meeting, during which the proposal for a uniform increase in seats across states, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, was discussed.
Sule said the formula was acceptable to the NCP (SP) in principle, provided it served the larger national interest. Sawant, meanwhile, said he would consult his party's leadership before taking a position on the proposal.
She also recalled that the INDIA bloc had previously discussed the possibility of a uniform 50% increase in parliamentary representation and had agreed that the proposal deserved serious consideration.
Sule flags growing electorate and inadequate MPLADS funds
Explaining her position on delimitation, Sule highlighted the growing number of voters in parliamentary constituencies and the challenges this poses for elected representatives.
She pointed out that she had been part of the Congress-led government when the previous delimitation exercise was carried out in 2007. Since then, the electorate in several constituencies has expanded substantially, with voter numbers rising from around 12-14 lakh to between 25 lakh and 40 lakh.
According to Sule, the increase has made it increasingly difficult for MPs to maintain contact with constituents and address their concerns. She also questioned the adequacy of the ₹5 crore annual Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) allocation in the face of such expanding electorates.
"Representation isn't just about power and mergers. Representation is a service. Imagine reaching 25 to 40 lakh people; even if someone were Superman or Batman, they couldn't reach everyone," she remarked.
Her comments placed the delimitation debate in the context of the practical difficulties faced by MPs, while also reiterating the NCP (SP)'s conditional support for a uniform increase in parliamentary seats.