3 minutes of readingBombayFebruary 1, 2026 04:27 pm IST
Amid conflicting claims about a possible merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday rejected claims by the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) that talks on reunification were at an advanced stage.
“If Ajit Pawar was in talks with the NCP (SP) about a merger, wouldn’t he have informed us?” Fadnavis said. “Ajit Pawar used to share everything with me. We had an hour-long discussion shortly before these claims started doing the rounds.”
Fadnavis also questioned the logic of the merger claims. “Even hypothetically, if a merger was underway, what was Ajit Pawar planning to do? Leave the government or stay in it?” asked.
“As far as we know, Ajit Pawar was stable in Mahayuti. Creating confusion around this is unfair.”
Fadnavis added that while the BJP was aware of several internal developments, it did not wish to politicize them. “We are aware of many things. I myself am a witness to several issues. But we do not want to play politics about it,” he said.
The comments came after senior NCP (SP) leaders, including Sharad Pawar and former state party chief Jayant Patil, said discussions on merging the two factions had taken place and were nearing completion, with suggestions that Ajit Pawar was interested in finalizing the move by mid-February.
Leaders of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP also denied these claims. Party lawmakers said no formal proposal had been put before the party. NCP MLA Sunil Shelke said no individual leader could decide on merger or leadership. “These decisions will be made within the party. It may take weeks or even months,” he said. State Minister Manikrao Kokate and MP Sunil Tatkare also denied that a merger date had been set.
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The PNC (SP), however, reiterated its position. State party president Shashikant Shinde said it was true that Ajit Pawar had been interested in a merger and talks had reached an advanced stage.
“We all know what Dada was like. He was an emotional person. He wanted to merge with his uncle. I swear… I’m not lying,” Shinde said. “If this were not true, why would Dada’s daughter have contested the elections with us, and why would our candidates have contested on Dada’s NCP clock symbol in the recently held civic body polls?”
Meanwhile, senior NCP leader Praful Patel denied reports suggesting that he was being appointed as the party’s national president.
“News reports claiming my appointment as national president of the Nationalist Congress Party are completely baseless and factually incorrect,” Patel said in a post on X.
Patel said any leadership decision would be taken only after consultation with senior leaders, MLAs and officials, and in accordance with the procedures laid down by the party.
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Ajit Pawar, who was deputy chief minister, died when the chartered plane carrying him crashed in Baramati on January 28.