Maharashtra politics is once again in the headlines. The round of meetings between senior leaders of the ruling party and the opposition is continuing. For the last few days, reports of split between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Sunetra Pawar faction and Sharad Pawar faction) are coming to the fore. At the same time, such discussions are also gaining momentum that both the groups can join together in NDA. However, when NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was questioned about these speculations, he maintained silence.
When Sharad Pawar was asked about the news of NCP joining NDA and the rift between the two factions of NCP, he did not answer and avoided the issue. He only said that it is not appropriate to ask this question at this time.
Clear message from BJP
In fact, for the last few days there was speculation about Sharad Pawar faction joining NDA. Recently, Sharad Pawar had met Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, after which this discussion intensified. Meanwhile, a clear message was given by BJP that NCP is likely to join NDA only after the merger of both the factions. Instead of taking Sharad Pawar faction into NDA separately, BJP is insisting on the merger of both the factions.
According to sources, the BJP leadership has proposed to give two posts in the Union Cabinet to create a balance of power between the two factions of the NCP, provided both agree to merge as one party.
‘The discussions have now come to a complete halt’
While talking to the media, Supriya Sule, who recently reached Jantar Mantar in Delhi, had clearly said on the merger of the two groups that the discussions have now come to a complete stop. Remembering Ajit Pawar, he said, my brother is no longer with us. Therefore, all the discussions going on about my brother or in his name have now come to a complete stop. He said that my brother’s last wish was that both the factions of NCP should unite and serve the state and the country together. We were fully prepared to fulfill his last wish.
He said that even during the life of Dada, we had the same feeling that both NCPs should unite and today even after his departure, we have the same feeling. He said that but now no such positive sentiment is visible from the other side. Therefore, he and his organization have considered this issue completely closed. He said that on the day Dada passed away, some of our senior leaders mentioned this topic. But the opposite party said that no such thing or any such incident had happened. We were deeply saddened by this.
NCP divided into two groups in 2023
In 2023, NCP was divided into two groups. Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra along with several senior colleagues. After this, the Election Commission recognized the Ajit Pawar faction as the rightful owner of the party’s name and election symbol. The Sharad Pawar-led faction works under the name ‘Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)’.
News of merger gained momentum
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. After his death, the command of the party is in the hands of his wife Sunetra Pawar. Before his death, there was a lot of talk that uncle and nephew would come together once again. Both the groups had also formed an alliance in the civic elections in Pune and other places. The talks between the two parties had progressed a lot, but Ajit Dada’s death derailed all these efforts.
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