NCP merger talks intensify as leaders recall Ajit Pawar's plans

Political tension in Maharashtra has risen sharply after senior NCP leaders began revisiting merger possibilities that were allegedly drafted by the late Ajit Pawar.

Sunil Tatkare told reporters on Friday that discussions about uniting the Sharad Pawar‑led NCP and the Prafull Patel faction were already underway when Ajit Pawar was alive. He claimed that the former party chief had prepared a concrete timeline, aiming for a merger on February 12. "If Ajit Dada were here, the two NCPs would have merged by that date," Tatkare asserted, adding that he had been a close confidante of Ajit Pawar and therefore possessed insider knowledge.

Ajit Pawar’s tragic death in a road accident on January 28 halted the process, according to Tatkare, leaving the merger unfinished. The revelation reignited speculation after Prafull Patel’s recent meeting with Sharad Pawar at a Nagpur hospital.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar publicly challenged the sudden resurgence of merger talks. He questioned senior leaders, including Prafull Patel and Sunil Tatkare, about why they previously dismissed any merger after Ajit Pawar’s death and now appear to be reconsidering. Rohit Pawar suggested that internal party strain and external political pressure could be motivating the change, hinting at possible opportunism ahead of future elections.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, when asked for comment, reiterated that the two NCP factions are independent and will decide on their own. He added that if they choose to join the NDA, the state government would support their decision, but no official response would be given until a formal discussion takes place.

The unfolding discourse underscores the fluid nature of Maharashtra’s coalition politics, with the potential unification of the NCP factions poised to reshape the state’s power equations.