MUMBAI — Any prospect of a merger between rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party is dead.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule shut the door firmly on unification talks, confirming that no proposal exists to stitch the estranged outfits back together. Discussions over reconciling the splintered regional heavyweight ceased when her cousin, former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, passed away.
Sule made the party's position unequivocal while addressing persistent political chatter surrounding recent clan gatherings in Baramati.
"There is no question," Sule stated. "Discussions happened when my brother was alive. We also had that sentiment. After he passed away, the matter ended there."
Recent sit-downs between party patriarch Sharad Pawar, his grandson Parth Pawar, and several sitting NCP legislators had triggered intense political speculation across Maharashtra. Sule brushed aside claims of backchannel negotiations, describing the visits as ordinary family courtesies that survived the bitter July 2023 political divorce.
"Sharad Pawar is Parth's grandfather," Sule said. "We have always met during family occasions, such as weddings or birthdays. Even after 2023, we have continued to meet Ajit Dada. There has never been any strain in our family relations, and there isn't any today either."
She noted that veteran lawmakers regularly call on the senior Pawar regardless of shifting party allegiances. Relationships remain intact even after defections.
Yet behind the personal cordiality lies an entrenched power struggle. Following Ajit Pawar's death, his 63-year-old widow Sunetra Pawar assumed his legislative and organizational mantle. She skipped a crucial coalition strategy huddle with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis—a deliberate absence widely read across Mumbai's power corridors as clear opposition to a merger.
Her sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, face identical risks. A unified party apparatus would naturally consolidate under Sharad Pawar's authority, placing Sule directly in the second-in-command seat and sidelining Sunetra Pawar's immediate branch. Pressed on the merger buzz, Sunetra Pawar maintained a guarded stance, saying developments would become known only at an "appropriate time."
Fadnavis similarly sidestepped the issue, stating that only Sule or Sunetra Pawar could provide answers on the factional alignment.
Bharatiya Janata Party strategists had actively explored a reconciliation to reinforce their numerical cushion in Parliament. absorbing the Sharadchandra Pawar faction would deliver eight Lok Sabha seats directly into the National Democratic Alliance column, while isolating Sharad Pawar from the national opposition alliance.
Political calculations, however, crashed against internal resistance from both family factions and regional leaders wary of Sule's command.
| Political Parameter | NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Position | Ruling Alliance Dynamics |
|---|---|---|
| Merger Proposal Status | Formally Rejected | Backtracked by Key Leadership |
| Core Leadership | Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule | Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar |
| Parliamentary Strength | 8 Lok Sabha Members of Parliament | NDA Targeting Expanded Margin |
| Family Stance | Talks Terminated Post-Ajit Pawar | Guarded; Awaiting Future Timing |
Sule also brushed aside speculation regarding impending federal delimitation legislation, pointing to rolling delays and unfulfilled government timelines.
The discussion is limited to television. Dates keep being announced — much like court dates — yet no parliamentary session has taken place. I had mentioned this previously as well: it was supposed to happen in October, but now November has arrived.
Supriya Sule, Senior NCP (SP) Leader
With the winter parliamentary calendar approaching, both rival factions will operate as distinct political entities across Maharashtra and New Delhi, ending months of backroom merger maneuvers.