States » WestPosted at: Nov 13 2026 10:04PM


NCP merger speculation flares up as Supriya Sule talks to Praful Patel

Mumbai, Nov 13 (UNI) Another round of speculation about a probable merger of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP got triggered off after sources said that Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule and Praful Patel of the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP had a 35-minute discussion in Delhi on Friday.
Sources also said that a meeting was also held between Praful Patel and Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare.
Commenting on the development, senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan said here on Friday that, “If Sharad Pawar goes with BJP after 60 years, it will be his personal interest, but I don't think it will happen. I don't think he will do that. But in the end, it is his party and the decision will be his. Yet, if both the NCPs come together and go to the NDA, our (opposition) strength will be a little reduced. If that happens, then only two ideologies will remain in the country,” Prithviraj Chavan said.
Meanwhile, it is being speculated that a proposal to give the post of National President of the NCP position to Sharad Pawar and the post of National Working President to Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar is under discussion.
However, Sunetra Pawar has not yet given her consent to this post allocation, according to unconfirmed speculation.
At the same time, the names of Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad are being discussed for the posts of ministers in the center and the state.
There are indications that the merger is no longer just about bringing the two NCPs together, but it seems that an attempt is underway to settle the future organisational leadership as well.
Some leaders from both the groups feel that the party can achieve great success if it faces the elections under the leadership of Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar.
The position of other leaders from the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP insist that Sharad Pawar should act as the main guide of the party and the post of national president should be left to Sunetra Pawar.
There has also been a suggestion to form a core committee comprising leaders from both the groups to run the party smoothly. The idea behind this proposal is that it will be possible to take important decisions and control the organizational affairs through this committee, but Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar has not yet approved this distribution of posts.
Along with the distribution of posts, the discussion on the merger is also considering the representation in the cabinet. It is learnt that efforts are underway to reach an agreement between the two groups regarding giving a ministerial berth to MP Supriya Sule at the Centre.
However, sources say that some leaders in that group have taken the position that if the party leadership is to go to Sharad Pawar, then the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP should also get a ministerial berth at the Centre.
Another proposal to include Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad from the Sharad Pawar faction in the state cabinet is also under discussion.
It is being speculated that there is a possibility of an agreement between both the groups regarding these two names.
However, this proposal will need to be approved by senior BJP leaders and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Therefore, even if there is an internal consensus within the NCP, the actual distribution of ministerial posts will also depend on the BJP's stance, sources said.
The biggest question in the merger process remains about whether the united NCP should join the BJP-led NDA, but Sharad Pawar has not yet taken a final decision about this matter, sources said.
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