Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis denies NCP merger speculation
The Chief Minister clarified that a meeting with Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar was strictly for official administrative work.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed reports of a potential merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on November 14. According to The News Mill, Fadnavis stated that a recent meeting with Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar involved only official government business and not any discussions regarding a party unification.
Fadnavis rejected claims of private talks aimed at reconciling the Ajit Pawar-led NCP with the faction led by Sharad Pawar. He noted that the Mahayuti alliance partners have not been given any formal notice about such a development and that the news appears to be media-driven.
The Chief Minister said that if such talks were happening, the alliance partners would have been informed. He added that there was no discussion about a merger during the meeting with Sunetra Pawar.
Fadnavis also addressed a press briefing by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule held earlier that day. He noted that Sule's comments were about legislative reforms, specifically her party's support for the Delimitation Bill if it includes a 50 per cent increase in seats.
While Fadnavis called for an end to rumours, News18 Marathi reported that political speculation continues. Observers have cited challenges such as party leadership, ministerial roles, and power-sharing as potential hurdles in any merger process.