Will a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions mean that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP will back or even join the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre and the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra? As speculation over a possible reunion gains momentum in political circles, leaders from the Ajit Pawar faction have publicly questioned the intent and direction of such a move.

State NCP president Sunil Tatkare said those speaking about a merger must first clarify which faction would merge into the other. Stating that his party is firmly aligned with the BJP-led NDA, Tatkare posed a pointed question to leaders from the Sharad Pawar camp. “Does this proposed merger mean that the other NCP faction is ready to join the NDA or extend support to it?” Tatkare asked, adding that he had no knowledge of any formal proposal. He also claimed that the late Ajit Pawar had never discussed such a plan with him.