Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare on February 2, 2026, questioned the feasibility of a merger between rival party factions, stating that the party under the late Ajit Pawar had collectively joined the BJP-led NDA. Speaking in Karad, Tatkare asserted that the ruling bloc remains united and wondered which faction was intended to merge with whom, casting a shadow over recent reunification rumors.
The Raigad Lok Sabha MP clarified that the appointment of Sunetra Pawar as the NCP legislature party head was an internal decision. He dismissed claims that the BJP influenced the move, which saw the widow of the late Ajit Pawar take oath as Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday. The transition follows the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28.
- Collective decision to join NDA — Tatkare emphasized that the 2024 assembly election results validated the party's alliance with the Mahayuti.
- Autonomy in leadership roles — The NCP legislature party maintains the authority to appoint its own leaders without external interference from allies.
- Protocol for official events — Invitations for the swearing-in ceremony were handled by the protocol department, explaining the absence of Sharad Pawar.
While Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule of the NCP (SP) have suggested that merger talks were in advanced stages, Tatkare and Praful Patel appear hesitant. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged a conspiracy to block the reunification, claiming that Ajit Pawar had finalized February 12 as the date for the merger before his untimely demise.
Minister Hasan Mushrif noted that the Pawar family would ultimately decide on the merger issue. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad maintained that talks were "2,000 per cent correct" despite the current public posturing. The political landscape remains fluid as the state prepares for local body polls on February 7.
