Political developments in Maharashtra have once again taken centre stage, with fresh speculation surrounding the future course of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), or NCP (SP). Reports suggesting that the party's proposal to merge with the Congress failed to receive backing have now given rise to another round of political chatter—that Sharad Pawar's outfit could explore closer ties with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While the party has categorically rejected these claims, the rumours have intensified amid visible strains within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
According to political sources, the NCP (SP) had approached the Congress leadership on two occasions with the idea of a merger. Similar discussions had reportedly taken place before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections but were deferred as political parties shifted focus to the election campaign. The latest reports suggest that the proposal was revisited, with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge said to have discussed the matter internally.
However, the Congress is believed to have sought feedback from its Maharashtra unit, where a majority of state leaders reportedly opposed the merger. The resistance from the state leadership is said to have effectively stalled the proposal, leaving the future of any formal alliance restructuring uncertain.
The speculation comes at a delicate time for the opposition alliance. The Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), has been grappling with internal challenges in recent months. The alliance suffered a setback after several MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) shifted their allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, raising questions about the opposition's cohesion.
Adding to the uncertainty, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray recently made a candid remark during an MVA meeting in Mumbai, questioning whether the alliance was truly united despite repeated public assertions of solidarity. His comments reflected growing concerns within the opposition over maintaining unity ahead of future electoral battles.
Political observers believe that such developments have fuelled speculation about whether the NCP (SP) may consider alternative political options to keep its legislators together and prevent further defections. However, no official indication has emerged from the party to support these claims.
Following reports that merger discussions with the Congress had lost momentum, rumours began circulating that some legislators from the NCP (SP) might be open to supporting the NDA or even formally joining the ruling alliance. Unverified reports also suggested that senior leaders, including MP Supriya Sule, could be offered significant roles at the Centre if such a political realignment were to take place.
The NCP (SP), however, has firmly denied these reports. Party MLA Rohit Pawar dismissed the speculation as baseless, stating that there was no question of the party merging with the Congress, joining the NDA, or extending outside support to the ruling coalition. According to him, the reports are nothing more than political rumours lacking any factual basis.
The Congress has also attempted to downplay the rumours. Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Amit Deshmukh said that it would be inappropriate to comment on speculative reports in the absence of any official announcement. He expressed confidence that Sharad Pawar would remain committed to his long-standing political ideology and continue working with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra as well as the INDIA alliance at the national level.
The BJP, meanwhile, has responded positively to the possibility, even while acknowledging that no such move has been confirmed. Former Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar remarked that the Congress had become a "sinking ship" and said that if Sharad Pawar's party decided to join the NDA in what he described as the national interest, it would be welcomed.
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