Nationalist Congress Party

NCP (SP) national working president Supriya Sule says no merger proposal has reached her. Speaking in New Delhi, she said any chance of the two factions coming back together ended when her cousin Ajit Pawar died.

NCP Maharashtra chief Sunil Tatkare has also dismissed the speculation. Sule called a recent meeting of senior leaders with Amit Shah an internal matter.

She said merger talks did take place while Ajit Pawar was alive, and a video of one such meeting in Baramati is already public.

Supriya Sule rules out merger talks between NCP factions

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT) says 20 to 22 MLAs from Sunetra Pawar's NCP could break away before the next elections, either returning to Sharad Pawar's faction or joining other parties.

He says these legislators feel sidelined since Ajit Pawar's death. A return to Sharad Pawar's camp would be a homecoming, not a formal merger.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says any merger must be discussed with the BJP first, a condition Raut says does not apply to Sharad Pawar's party. Sunetra Pawar has neither confirmed nor denied the talks.