States » WestPosted at: Nov 13 2026 12:24AM


Shinde Sena’s Shirsat hints at an NCP ‘Third Group’

Mumbai, Nov 12 (UNI) Senior Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and Minister of Social Justice Sanjay Shirsat hinted about a “third group” arising from both the NCPs.
“How is any merger possible in a party where the leaders are tearing off each other's clothes? Instead of the two NCPs coming together, will a new third group emerge from it?” Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and Minister of Social Justice Sanjay Shirsat told media persons.
Shirsat said that the possibility of a new third NCP being formed through the so-called merger talks between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Deputy CM Sunetra Anit Pawar-led NCP cannot be ruled out, adding that there is an internal struggle going on in both the NCPs.
This statement by Sanjay Shirsat infuriated Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader and Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif who told media persons on Thursday, “How can Shirsat talk about our party? These are baseless statements. Eknath Shinde must restrain him from making such baseless statements. He must stop making statements which weaken the Mahayuti ruling alliance”.
Referring to the statement made by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader and Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, “An attempt is being made to weaken our party. There is no truth in Sanjay Raut’s statement that some MLAs will split away from our party. Raut constantly makes statements against our party. Why should he worry about our party? He never comments about how many MPs and MLAs left his party”.
However, Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader and Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif’s statement irked Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and Minister of Social Justice Sanjay Shirsat, who told media persons on Thursday, “I know what is going on very well. Hasan Mushrif must first listen carefully to whatever I said. I request him not to make such statements and provoke me to speak. If he forces me to speak, then I will show no mercy”.
Earlier, Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare told media persons here on Thursday that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has lost his mental balance after Raut claimed that around 30 MLAs from the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP will split away from the party.
“Sanjay Raut’s mental balance has been disturbed after the assembly elections. That is why he keeps saying anything. Our party is united. Our MLAs are together. They will not go anywhere,” Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare said.
“I have a good relationship with him (Sanjay Raut), but since the assembly elections, his mental balance has deteriorated. The NCP is united. Our 41 MLAs are working under the leadership of Sunetra Pawar. No one will split away,” Sunil Tatkare told media persons here on Thursday.
Sources said that it has been well known that Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel have been unhappy with the leadership of their party supremo Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar, besides the fact that both Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel have the blessings of union Minister Amit Shah.
Sources also mentioned that there is a dispute within the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, where some pro-BJP MLAs wish to join the Fadnavis government, which is being opposed by NCP founder Sharad Pawar and his MLA nephew Rohit Pawar.
The pro-BJP faction of MLAs within the Sharad Pawar-led NCP is in touch with Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel, sources said.
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