Ahead Of Bihar Polls, NCP (SP) Breaks Ranks With INDI Alliance Over Parliament Committee On Bills Disqualifying Jailed Ministers

Once again breaking ranks with the INDI Alliance, the NCP (Sharad Pawar) has opted to join the Joint Committee of Parliament that will review three Bills seeking automatic disqualification of ministers — including the Prime Minister — who remain in jail for over 30 consecutive days on serious charges, Indian Express reported.

The NCP (SP) maintained that the move reflects its tradition of independent decision-making under Sharad Pawar’s leadership.

Yet, the timing — with Bihar elections nearing — raises concerns of disunity within the Opposition alliance.

In Pune, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said that the party remains opposed to the Bills but views the Joint Committee as an appropriate forum to put forward its views.

"I got a call from (Union minister) Kiren Rijiju asking if our party will be a part of the House panel. I discussed it with Sharad Pawar Saheb and we agreed,” the NCP (SP) Working President was quoted as saying by IE.

“The Congress hasn’t contacted us and there has been no discussion on whether to be a part of the committee or not...," Sule added.

Parties like the Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party have refused to join the committee.

Meanwhile, the Left parties showed initial willingness, while the Congress delayed taking a stance.

According to the NCP (SP), Sharad Pawar’s position has always been clear — being part of the INDI Alliance bloc doesn’t prevent the party from exercising independent judgment.

With Maharashtra elections still distant, joining the panel is seen as a strategic move reinforcing Pawar’s leadership image.

According to the IE report, a state NCP (SP) leader remarked that the party had no apprehensions since none of its members faced legal jeopardy.

“All national issues are decided by Pawar Saheb,” the leader added, noting that their opposition to the Bills was already well-articulated.

This is not the first time Pawar’s party has diverged from INDI Alliance's collective stance.

In past instances - the INDI alliance had called for a special Parliament session to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.

However, Pawar’s stand was that on issues related to national security, everyone should stand together, overriding politics and party lines.

Similarly, during the Adani controversy, he opposed the Congress’s call for a JPC, suggesting instead a Supreme Court-monitored probe.

Beyond politics, Sharad Pawar continues to maintain cordial ties with leaders across party lines, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pawar has also publicly disagreed with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his harsh criticism of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who remains a revered figure in Maharashtra.

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