Sharad Pawar dismisses merger speculation between NCP factions as 'irrelevant'

Updated: July 29, 2026 — 03:10 am IST By: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit

NCP SP leader Sharad Pawar on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) dismissed speculation about a potential merger between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar group.

"It has no relevance," he told reporters in Baramati.

The statement carries significant weight amid recent reports suggesting possible talks between the two factions.

Background

Over the past few months, several leaders had claimed that reuniting the two parties was the late NCP leader Ajit Pawar's final wish. Leaders from both sides had acknowledged that merger discussions were in their final stages before Ajit Pawar's death in an air crash earlier this year.

However, a senior NCP leader said: "That time has gone. Everyone has moved on. The talks are not likely to go anywhere as of now."

Leaders indicated a lack of willingness to reunite as a single party.

Recent Meetings

• Parth Pawar meets Sharad Pawar: NCP MP Parth Pawar recently met Sharad Pawar in Delhi. Party sources dismissed speculation of political discussions, describing it as a courtesy visit ahead of Parth Pawar's engagement, scheduled for July 29 in Pune. A party leader claimed that Praful Patel's presence during the meeting was coincidental.

• Sunil Tatkare meets Amit Shah: On July 27, NCP leader Sunil Tatkare met Union Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. NCP sources indicated that merger talks would no longer materialise.

Internal Differences

Within the Ruling NCP

Group in favour of merger:

• Believes consolidation would strengthen the party
• Sees better prospects for the 2029 elections
• Supports reunification under Sharad Pawar's leadership

Group opposed to merger:

• Views the possibility as "discomforting"
• Considers Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar as their leaders
• Fears that Ajit Pawar's family would lose control
• Questions whether a consensus on hierarchy and organisational leadership can be reached

A senior leader aware of the developments told The Hindu: "Sunetra Pawar is unhappy with the proposal. She is not keen about the merger. It will upset the party equation internally. The political differences within the family have not been resolved."

Within NCP SP

When asked about internal discussions, a senior leader said they had been told there was no question of a merger.

"The supreme leader always keeps his cards close to his chest. There is no question of predicting anything," another leader added.