NEW DELHI: Late-night meetings in Mumbai between senior leaders from both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday reignited speculation over Sharad Pawar’s next move, with both camps simultaneously grappling with questions over their political future.
NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil first met Sharad Pawar at his south Mumbai residence, Silver Oak, before meeting Fadnavis later in the evening. Separately, ruling NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel also met the Chief Minister.
Neither the leaders who attended the meetings nor the Chief Minister’s Office commented on what was discussed. Sources in both the ruling NCP and the NCP (SP) said they were unaware of the agenda.
The meetings come at a time when the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) is confronting its biggest strategic dilemma since Ajit Pawar split the undivided NCP and joined the BJP-led Mahayuti in July 2023.
At least half of the NCP (SP)’s 10 MLAs favour joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), arguing that remaining in the Opposition has made it increasingly difficult to secure development funds and administrative clearances for their constituencies.
Jayant Patil had recently conveyed this sentiment to party legislators, saying a significant section of the MLAs was inclined towards the NDA. Sharad Pawar, however, has so far remained silent and has not publicly indicated the party’s next course.
Although the NCP (SP), with 10 MLAs in the Assembly and eight Lok Sabha MPs, is the smallest among Maharashtra’s six major political parties, its parliamentary strength has assumed significance at a time when the BJP-led NDA is looking to bolster its numbers ahead of key legislation, including the proposed delimitation Bill. Party leaders believe the NDA would be open to support from smaller parties such as the NCP (SP).
But the churn is no longer confined to the Sharad Pawar camp. According to leaders in both NCP factions, the fact that the NCP (SP) has publicly weighed options ranging from a merger with the Congress to an understanding with the NDA, without first pursuing a reconciliation with the Ajit Pawar-led party, has intensified discussions within the ruling NCP over its political positioning and Sunetra Pawar’s leadership.
