Sharad Pawar Leaves NCP Reunion Decision To Supriya Sule And Ajit Pawar — What Maharashtra's Rival Factions Think

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said that the decision regarding reunion between the two factions of the NCP now lies with the new generation of leaders, specifically his daughter Supriya Sule and his nephew Ajit Pawar, who lead the rival factions.

Speaking to the media, Sharad Pawar acknowledged that opinions within his faction are divided. While some leaders are in favour of negotiating with Ajit Pawar’s group, others are firmly against any alignment with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and prefer to remain with the opposition INDI Alliance. 

Pawar made it clear that he is no longer "actively involved in taking such decisions," and that Supriya Sule will take charge of any discussions or negotiations going forward.

Leaders from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, such as Rohit Pawar and Yugendra Pawar, have said that they believe that the family coming together could strengthen the party’s political position ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Ajit Pawar’s faction has shown a willingness to accept members from the Sharad Pawar camp, but on the condition that they accept Ajit’s leadership. Senior leaders like Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel have dismissed talk of a full-fledged reunion, reiterating their commitment to the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.

The NCP split in June 2023 when Ajit Pawar took 40 MLAs with him, forming a separate faction and joining the government with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Since then, both factions have contested elections independently, often fielding candidates against each other.