Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Sunetra Pawar says NCP merger decision will come at the right time
Maharashtra deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar gave no confirmation of an NCP merger, saying details would be known at the appropriate time.
The question concerns the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party, which split in 2023 after Ajit Pawar broke away and joined Maharashtra’s ruling coalition.
The Election Commission recognised Ajit Pawar’s group as the NCP, while Sharad Pawar’s faction became the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
Recent meetings between leaders from the factions renewed merger speculation, after the groups contested municipal elections in alliance in January.
Ajit Pawar died in a private plane crash on January 28, leaving the possible reunification uncertain.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said only Sharad and Sunetra Pawar can clarify whether they will reunite, and that neither faction had told the BJP of a merger plan.
No merger decision has been announced, and Sunetra Pawar said further details would come later.
Sunetra Pawar said the outcome of speculation about a merger of the NCP’s two factions would be known at the appropriate time.
She made the comment to reporters in Baramati on Wednesday.
The factions contested Maharashtra municipal corporation elections in alliance in January, prompting merger speculation.
Ajit Pawar’s death in a private plane crash later that month cast uncertainty over reunification.
Recent meetings between leaders of the factions have renewed merger speculation.
- Who
- Sunetra Pawar, Maharashtra deputy chief minister and NCP president, addressed the speculation.
- What
- She said a decision on a possible merger of the NCP’s two factions would become clear at the appropriate time.
- When
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Baramati, Maharashtra.
- Why
- Questions about a possible merger followed alliance election campaigning and recent meetings between leaders of the factions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The NCP split after Ajit Pawar broke away and joined the BJP-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra.
The two factions contested Maharashtra municipal corporation elections in alliance, fuelling merger speculation.
Ajit Pawar died in a private plane crash.
Several NCP leaders, including Parth Pawar and Praful Patel, met Sharad Pawar.
Sunetra Pawar said the merger question would become clear at the appropriate time.
- Party
- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
- Split
- July 2023
- Merger speculation
- Renewed after faction leaders met Sharad Pawar last week
- Ajit Pawar’s death
- January 28, in a private plane crash
- Sunetra Pawar’s comment
- Baramati, November 11, 2026
4 sources
Things will be known at appropriate time: Sunetra Pawar on NCP merger talks
'Things will be known at appropriate time': Sunetra Pawar on NCP merger speculation
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis defends UCC move, says NCP merger issue rests with Pawars
What people are saying
Things (about the merger) will be known when the time comes,
If they (Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar) decide to merge (their parties), they will come and tell us, because the merger cannot happen without us. Neither of them has told us anything yet,