Nagpur, November 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Amid speculation over a possible merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the two parties were independent and free to take their own decisions, but would have to take the NDA into confidence before proceeding with any such move.
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on behalf of the two parties, which have several senior leaders.
“At the end of the day, they are two independent parties and will collectively make their decisions. They have senior leaders like Sharad Pawar saheb in their party, along with Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Parth Pawar. Therefore, I believe it would not be appropriate for us to comment or make a decision on their behalf. They will take their own decisions,” he said.
He added that any decision would involve consultations with the NDA, as the NCP was a major partner in the alliance.
“Therefore, it is not appropriate for us to react on this matter today, as they have not consulted us about it yet. If discussions are underway from their side, they will let us know, and we will respond accordingly,” he said.
Speculation over a merger intensified after NCP leader Praful Patel met NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) president Sharad Pawar at a hospital on Thursday. It gained further momentum following remarks by NCP leader Sunil Tatkare.
On Friday, Tatkare said that both NCP factions would have reunited by February 12 if former party chief Ajit Pawar had been alive.
“Discussions about the merger definitely took place when Ajit Dada was alive. He had also outlined how the merger would happen. If Ajit Dada were here, the merger would have happened on February 12th. This would have been made possible through Ajit Dada’s fierce willpower. I was a close associate of Ajit Dada, which is why I am aware of this matter,” Tatkare said.
He added that Ajit Pawar’s death in an accident on January 28 had prevented the process from moving forward.
Meanwhile, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned why senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare were now speaking about a merger after denying the possibility immediately following Ajit Pawar’s death.
Rohit Pawar suggested that political pressures and internal difficulties within the Ajit Pawar faction could be behind the renewed statements. He acknowledged that merger discussions had taken place during Ajit Pawar’s lifetime, saying his push for unity was driven largely by personal and family emotions, including a desire to keep Sharad Pawar and the Pawar family together.
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