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The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) connected Wednesday (March 4, 2026) formally scotched speculations astir a imaginable merger with the Nationalist Congress Party, saying that specified talks were nary longer nether information and that its allies successful the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) were alert of the party’s position.
Speaking to reporters successful Mumbai, NCP (SP) State president Jayant Patil said, “The merger talks had been initiated astatine the insistence of Ajit Pawar. He is nary much now. So, determination is nary anticipation of a merger anymore. This contented does not beryllium anymore. I don’t deliberation immoderate of our confederation partners person immoderate doubts astir this.”
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His remarks travel amid concerns raised by immoderate MVA leaders astir NCP SP’s ideological presumption and whether it mightiness yet align with the BJP-led Mahayuti successful Maharashtra.
Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and NCP’s nationalist president, died successful a tragic aerial clang connected January 28. Following his death, NCP (SP) had claimed that merger talks betwixt the 2 factions were astatine an precocious signifier and that a ceremonial announcement was expected connected February 12. However, the enactment did not clarify whether a unified NCP would align with the NDA’s determination alliance, Mahayuti oregon the INDIA Bloc’s determination alliance, MVA. This ambiguity had triggered unease among its allies.
Mr. Patil spoke connected the sidelines of discussions implicit the Rajya Sabha information from Maharashtra. When asked whether confederation partners were seeking assurance astir NCP (SP)’s allegiance to the INDIA Bloc, helium said nary specified assurance was necessary.
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The enactment maintained that the MVA was formed astatine the inaugural of Sharad Pawar and that helium remained the binding unit that brought the Congress and the Shiv Sena unneurotic contempt their years of governmental differences.
The NCP (SP) has maintained that Ajit Pawar had been keen connected reunification and had initiated informal discussions without consulting different enactment leaders. However, the existent NCP enactment has denied that immoderate merger talks were underway.
