States » WestPosted at: Nov 14 2026 2:32PM


Sanjay Raut dismisses NCP merger speculation as ‘Saleem-Javed Fiction’

Mumbai, Nov 14 (UNI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday dismissed speculation about a possible merger between the two rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), describing the reports as “mythical fiction akin to Saleem-Javed movie scripts.”
Speaking to media persons in Mumbai, Raut asserted that the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar operates under the influence of union Home Minister Amit Shah, and maintained that NCP chief Sharad Pawar would never align with it.
“The other faction of the NCP is effectively Amit Shah’s faction, and Sharad Pawar will never go with them,” Raut said.
Rejecting reports that recent interactions between NCP leaders indicated progress towards a merger, Raut pointed out that 40-45 members regularly sit together during parliamentary committee meetings chaired by Amit Shah to discuss official matters.
"Just because 40-45 members sit together in a parliamentary panel headed by Amit Shah to discuss official agendas from 11 AM to 5 PM doesn’t mean a party merger is being discussed. This entire narrative is a myth being pushed by the BJP simply to create confusion within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)," Raut added.
He said such interactions should not be interpreted as indications of a political understanding or merger between the two factions.
Raut alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is bent on promoting the merger narrative to create confusion within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Taking a swipe at NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, Raut said he was not their spokesperson and remarked that Patel's political conversations are more frequently associated with Amit Shah.
He further maintained that Sharad Pawar and his family had made their position clear, leaving little scope for speculation about a reunification of the rival factions.Raut criticised the central government over the reported revocation of a foreign journalist's visa, alleging that the action was linked to her question to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an overseas interaction about his reluctance to hold formal press conferences.
Describing India as a democratic nation, Raut questioned the absence of regular press conferences by the Prime Minister and alleged that the journalist faced action for raising the issue.
“This only goes to show that a 56-inch chest Prime Minister and Home Minister are ultimately scared of a single female journalist,” he said.
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