Rohit Pawar questions renewed NCP merger talk, says leaders making contradictory claims
ThePrint - India · Published 7 November 2026 · Last updated
Rohit Pawar warns that contradictory statements on NCP faction reunification signal internal rifts and could destabilise Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti coalition.
Key points
- Rohit Pawar, NCP (SP) MLA from Karjat‑Jamkhed, on 7 Nov 2026 publicly questioned the contradictory statements made by senior NCP leaders about a possible merger of the two party factions after Ajit Pawar’s death.
- He recalled that the late Ajit Pawar, who headed the NCP until his death in January 2026, had insisted that the Pawar family remain united and that the two NCP factions should reunite, citing Sharad Pawar’s advanced age of 85.
- Sunil Tatkare, state president of the NCP (SP), later claimed that the merger would have taken place on 12 Feb 2026 had Ajit Pawar been alive, contradicting earlier denials of any such talks.
- Praful Patel, senior NCP leader, was seen in a viral video visiting Sharad Pawar in a Mumbai hospital and discussing a possible meeting after 10 Nov 2026, fueling speculation about renewed merger negotiations.
- Rohit Pawar suggested that the sudden shift in narrative could be an attempt to pressure Sunetra Pawar, who now heads the NCP (SP), amid internal power struggles.
- He also warned that the revived merger chatter might signal underlying tensions within the BJP‑NCP alliance that underpins Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti coalition.
- According to Rohit Pawar, Ajit Pawar had taken to the streets after his party split to contest municipal corporation and zilla parishad elections against the BJP, highlighting his commitment to a united front.
- The disagreement over merger talks involves senior figures Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Parth Pawar, none of whom have confirmed a concrete timeline for reunification.
- Rohit Pawar emphasized that the contradictory claims could undermine the stability of the NCP’s leadership and affect the coalition’s performance in upcoming local elections.
Background
- Ajit Pawar, then head of the NCP, died in a plane crash in January 2026, creating a leadership vacuum.
- Since the death, the NCP split into two factions: NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar and NCP (Ajit) led by his late son.
- Historically, the NCP has been a junior partner in Maharashtra’s BJP‑NCP Mahayuti coalition since 2019.
- Earlier in 2025, internal dissent surfaced when senior leaders demanded a collective leadership model, but Sharad Pawar retained sole presidency.
- The NCP’s 2024 election manifesto pledged to maintain party unity and support the coalition’s development agenda.
UPSC relevance, Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: ThePrint - India