NCP leaders rule out immediate merger of party factions
Supriya Sule and Sunil Tatkare dismissed speculation regarding a reunion between the two rival Nationalist Congress Party factions.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) working president and MP Supriya Sule said on Saturday that discussions regarding a possible merger between the two rival NCP factions ended following the death of her brother, former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
According to the Times of India, Sule stated that the merger was discussed until Ajit Pawar was alive, but his death put a full stop to those discussions. Ajit Pawar died on January 28, 2026, after an aircraft crash at Baramati airport in Pune district.
Maharashtra NCP president and MP Sunil Tatkare also dismissed merger speculation on Friday, asserting that his faction is not considering a reunion with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SCP). Tatkare told news agency ANI that there is no discussion regarding a merger at any level.
Tatkare described a recent meeting between senior leader Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar as a personal visit to enquire about the veteran leader's health. He reaffirmed that his faction remains in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the leadership of Sunetra Pawar.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar evaded direct questions about a potential merger. She stated that information regarding the matter would be revealed at the appropriate time.
Sunetra Pawar was speaking at a press conference to announce programmes for the 191st birth anniversary of Birsa Munda. The Maharashtra government will observe November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas with a service week from November 11 to 18.