NCP merger buzz grows after Sharad Pawar-Praful Patel meet, leadership tussle in focus

Speculation over a possible merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions has intensified following a meeting between Sharad Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel, amid reports of differences within the party led by Sunetra Pawar over its future leadership and organisational structure.

The developments have brought renewed attention to the political future of the NCP following Ajit Pawar's death in a plane crash on January 28. While discussions about reunification have resurfaced, uncertainty remains over whether the factions can agree on a common leadership and political direction.

Patel met Sharad Pawar at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Thursday, where the 85-year-old veteran politician is undergoing treatment for a chest and respiratory infection.

Although Patel maintained that the visit was primarily to enquire about Pawar's health, a conversation between the two leaders about meeting again after November 10 has fuelled speculation about possible political discussions.

𝗣𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿-𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

A video of the interaction showed the two leaders discussing the possibility of sitting together after November 10.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Patel said he shared longstanding personal and family ties with Sharad Pawar despite their political differences.

He maintained that the hospital was not an appropriate place for detailed political discussions and said the veteran leader had enquired about developments in Maharashtra and national politics.

The meeting came days after Patel and several other senior NCP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, triggering speculation about the party's internal functioning and possible reunification.

Among those who attended the meeting with Shah were Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde, Hasan Mushrif and Dilip Walse Patil.

However, Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar were not part of that delegation, prompting questions about the extent of agreement among senior leaders on the party's future.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

The reported differences centre on the distribution of organisational responsibilities and Parth Pawar's growing role in the party following his father's death.

According to political reports, some senior leaders have expressed reservations about concentrating decision-making authority within the Pawar family and have sought a more collective leadership arrangement.

Parth, who is a Rajya Sabha member, has reportedly been seeking a larger organisational role, while senior functionaries are understood to favour a broader decision-making structure.

The NCP, however, has rejected suggestions of internal divisions.

Party spokesperson Umesh Patil described reports of a leadership rift as attempts to create an artificial narrative of disagreement within the organisation.

He maintained that the meeting with Shah was a planned interaction concerning party matters and should not be interpreted as evidence of internal conflict.

𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱

The NCP split in 2023 when Ajit Pawar and several senior leaders joined Maharashtra's ruling alliance, while Sharad Pawar continued to lead a separate faction.

Following the split, Ajit Pawar's group retained the NCP name and its election symbol, while the rival faction became the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).

Discussions about bringing the factions together had taken place before Ajit Pawar's death, according to leaders from both sides.

On Friday, Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare said the reunification would have been formalised on February 12 had Ajit Pawar been alive.

Tatkare said Ajit Pawar had personally discussed the proposed merger and outlined how it could be implemented.

However, Sharad Pawar's daughter and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule had earlier indicated that the discussions effectively ended following Ajit Pawar's death, as he had been central to the negotiations.

The differing statements have left the status of any fresh merger proposal unclear.

𝗕𝗝𝗣'𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘇𝘇

The meeting between senior NCP leaders and Amit Shah has also drawn attention to the BJP's reported interest in bringing the two factions together within the National Democratic Alliance.

Reports have suggested that the BJP leadership sees a reunited NCP as potentially strengthening the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.

However, the proposal faces political complications, particularly because Sharad Pawar's faction remains aligned with the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Questions also remain over the leadership of a reunited party and the distribution of responsibilities between senior leaders and members of the Pawar family.

The NCP leadership has denied that the meeting with Shah reflected any rebellion against Sunetra Pawar.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗖𝗣?

The possibility of further discussions after November 10 has added a new dimension to the political uncertainty.

For now, neither faction has formally announced an agreement to reunite, and senior leaders have offered differing assessments of the prospects for a merger.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also visited Sharad Pawar in hospital, said his meeting was personal and intended to enquire about the veteran leader's health.

The immediate questions facing the NCP concern whether its two factions will resume formal negotiations and how leadership responsibilities will be settled in the post-Ajit Pawar period.

Until those issues are resolved, the discussions surrounding reunification remain speculative, with no formal merger agreement announced.