The Maharashtra deputy chief minister declined to give a direct answer regarding the potential reunification of the two Nationalist Congress Party factions.
Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday addressed speculation regarding a possible merger of the party's two factions. Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar stated that things would be known at the "appropriate time."
According to reports from The Times of India and The Economic Times, the merger discussions gained momentum after several NCP leaders, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met with Sharad Pawar. A viral video showed Sharad Pawar and Patel discussing a meeting after November 10.
The NCP split in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar left to join the BJP-led ruling coalition. The Election Commission recognised the Ajit Pawar-led faction as the NCP, while the group led by Sharad Pawar was named NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
NCP state president Sunil Tatkare claimed last week that the merger would have occurred in February if Ajit Pawar had not died in a private plane crash on January 28. Following Ajit Pawar's death, Sunetra Pawar took over as party president and deputy chief minister in the government comprising the BJP and Shiv Sena.
Pawar's remarks came during a press conference held to announce programmes for the 191st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. The Maharashtra government will observe November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, with a service week scheduled from November 11 to 18.
