'You will know when the time comes': Sunetra Pawar on possible NCP merger

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday remained non-committal on a possible merger between the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, saying, "You will know when the time comes."

Speaking at a press conference in Baramati, she acknowledged the curiosity surrounding a possible reunion with Sharad Pawar's faction but did not confirm whether talks were underway.

The speculation gained momentum after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs from Sunetra's NCP were considering leaving the party and had been meeting Sharad Pawar.

Raut said the MLAs could join Sharad's party or move to another party before the elections. "They could come back home. I wouldn't call that a merger," he said.

BJP minister Ashish Shelar also reacted to the speculation, saying, "If the brothers and sisters in the Pawar family are coming together, that's something to be happy about."

The merger buzz has resurfaced amid reported discontent within Sunetra's NCP. Several senior leaders recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi over differences concerning the functioning of the party.

Sunetra also called an urgent meeting of NCP MLAs at her official residence after senior leaders complained that they had been excluded from key party appointments made by her son, Parth Pawar.

Speculation intensified after senior NCP leader Praful Patel visited Sharad Pawar at a Mumbai hospital on November 5. Parth also met his grandfather twice in two days.

The NCP split in 2023 after Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined Maharashtra's ruling coalition.

NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said no merger talks were underway. However, he said the two factions would have reunited had Ajit been alive.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the decision rested with the two parties and that the BJP-led alliance would be consulted if they decided to proceed.