NCP Reunion Key to NDA Entry: Sources
BJP said to favour alliance only after merger of Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar factions
- BJP sources say NCP factions must reunite before any NDA alignment.
- Talks of reunion gain momentum amid recent political meetings.
- Ruling NCP seeks Union Cabinet representation in future expansion.
- Delimitation Bill discussions add significance to NCP-SP’s parliamentary support.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th July: Any formal alignment of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be possible only after the reunification of the party’s two rival factions, according to sources familiar with discussions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The development comes amid renewed speculation over a possible reconciliation between the factions led by Sharad Pawar and the late Ajit Pawar, following a series of meetings involving leaders from both camps and senior members of Maharashtra’s ruling alliance.
Sources said the BJP is not inclined to induct Sharad Pawar or leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) individually into the NDA and would consider any formal alliance only if the two factions reunite as a single political entity.
The NCP split in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar and several senior leaders joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. The Election Commission later recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the official NCP, while Sharad Pawar’s group has since functioned separately as the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
Meanwhile, the ruling NCP, which is part of the NDA government in Maharashtra, has reiterated its expectation of representation in the Union Council of Ministers whenever the Centre undertakes a Cabinet expansion. Party spokesperson Umesh Patil said workers want Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar to be inducted, while adding that the final decision rests with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The political discussions have gained significance ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where the Centre is expected to introduce the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill on delimitation. The support of the NCP-SP, which has eight Lok Sabha MPs and one Rajya Sabha MP, could prove important if the government seeks wider backing.
NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule recently indicated that her party could consider supporting the delimitation proposal if it guarantees a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states, although she clarified that any decision would be taken after consultations within the INDIA bloc.
Despite speculation over political realignment, Sule dismissed rumours of her party joining the NDA, while senior NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil said recent meetings with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were related to constituency issues and did not involve merger discussions.
