Sharad Pawar rejects merger speculation and says NCP-SP will remain independent

Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar leader Sharad Pawar has rejected speculation that his party could merge with the NCP or join the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Speaking to party workers at the Y.B. Chavan auditorium in Mumbai on Tuesday, Pawar said the NCP-SP would not join another party.

He added that people who wanted to join his organisation would be welcome. “There is talk about us,” Pawar said, explaining that discussions concerned strengthening the NCP under his leadership. He said the party would continue working to expand its organisation.

His remarks were greeted with applause from party workers. The statement followed renewed speculation about a possible political realignment in Maharashtra. The NCP is led by Sunetra Pawar, the late Ajit Pawar’s wife and Maharashtra’s incumbent Deputy Chief Minister, and is part of the State government.

The NCP-SP is aligned with the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi and the wider INDIA bloc. Speculation intensified after Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Hindu reported that sources had indicated the Bharatiya Janata Party wanted the two NCP factions to come together and join the national alliance.

Pawar’s latest comments directly ruled out his party joining another organisation. Maharashtra NCP-SP president Shashikant Shinde said the clarification should end uncertainty among party cadres. He urged them to concentrate on expanding the party’s presence.

NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule said the meeting showed that the party remained ready to contest politically. Another party leader, Jitendra Awhad, said the party’s position was clear: its doors were open to those wishing to join, but it would not join another party. The leadership had also discussed drought in Maharashtra and resolved to intensify its campaign for aid to farmers, including a demand for drought to be declared across the State rather than only in 265 talukas.