The two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were scheduled to declare their reunion on 8th February. The information has transpired after the death of Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar. According to sources, the leaders from both parties were gearing up for a formal reunification after the zilla parishad election results.
Ajit Pawar and several top party leaders broke away from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) headed by Sharad Pawar and joined the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra in 2023. The nephew and uncle then formed their respective factions of NCP. However, in recent days, there were speculations of a reunion of the party.
The merger talks were at an advanced stage, and the party officials stated that the fundamental political process is still in place even in the face of the tragedy. Late 28th January night, key NCP leaders who hurried to Baramati to pay their final respects to Ajit Pawar had a meeting where the need of maintaining negotiations under the shifting political circumstances was discussed, reported The Indian Express.
Senior NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Jayant Patil and the party’s state chief Shashikant Shinde confirmed the details about the merger to the media house. Insiders disclosed that the leaders even discussed potential cabinet reorganisation and informal addition of new members as part of the deal.
As a vital conduit between the two NCP groups, the late deputy chief minister led the negotiations from the front and was instrumental in re-establishing contact with the side commanded by his uncle. “In recent times, we (the two factions) were meeting frequently. On 16th January, we met at my residence to finalise the talks of contesting elections together. On 17th January, a meeting was held at Sharad Pawar’s house,” Shinde expressed.
“It is now necessary to speak the truth. Ajit Pawar had mentioned that we would come together after the municipal corporation elections. Meetings were also held in that regard. He said this while looking towards Sharad Pawar for guidance. Our progress will now be in that direction,” he added.
“He was hundred per cent keen on merging both the factions. He had told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger was imminent in the next few days,” Kiran Gujar, Ajit Pawar’s close aide, mentioned. The two factions fought the recent civic polls together. Ajit Pawar also revealed his intentions to certain journalists as well. He desired that the merger should take place while Sharad Pawar was in good health.
According to Gujar, “positive talks were underway with Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and other leaders” and there were signs that the senior Pawar was in support of the move. He stated, “Many positive things were on the cards but this tragedy struck and took Ajit Pawar away from us. Now, after his death, it has become even more imperative that both factions come together and work for the betterment of Baramati and the state.”
NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse also confirmed the merger talks, saying, “Talks of a merger had been going on for several days. Over the past three to four months, discussions had taken place with Ajit Dada and other leaders, and it was almost decided that the merger would happen… There was also a plan to formally announce the merger.”
As a confidence-boosting exercise, there had been conversations about contesting together in the next zilla parishad elections. “It was part of the strategy to test the waters, and to announce the merger after the zilla parishad results,” pointed out a NCP(SP) leader.
Talk of reconciliation had been gaining traction after the two NCP sections jointly ran in the pivotal Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad local elections, with numerous public indications and media stories suggesting a warming of tied bwtween the two camps. Additionally, leaders had publicly softened their stances, implying that internal conflicts were being settled.
If the two factions decide to merge, the combined NCP will have to decide whether to join Mahayuti or the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi. If the party decides to join the opposition, it may face revolt from some MLAs who want to remain in the government.
Meanwhile, the NCP is expected to send a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting that Ajit Pawar’s portfolios be given to the party because the ministries fell inside its quota. Party leaders want Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar, currently a Rajya Sabha member, to be included in the Fadnavis govt. If the merger plan fails, she may also head the party.
Ajit Pawar was in charge of the Excise, Planning and Finance departments at the time of his passing. He also took further charges of minority development, sport and youth welfare. The NCP is anticipated to make claims on these portfolios since all of these are now unoccupied.
Ajit Pawar died on 28th January when an aeroplane carrying him crashed at the airport while making an emergency landing at approximately 8:45 am in Baramati.
