Are There Any Talks of a Merger or Tie-Up?

Mumbai, May 14 (NationPress) In light of speculation regarding a potential merger or alliance between the two factions ahead of the forthcoming civic and local body elections, both the NCP and NCP (SP) have firmly stated on Wednesday that there has been no discussions or plans in this regard.

NCP chief spokesperson Anand Paranjape emphasized: “Regarding the rumors about a merger or collaboration between both factions, no proposal has been received from the NCP (SP). Should any proposal arise from the party led by Sharad Pawar, the national president Ajit Pawar, working president Praful Patel, state party chief Sunil Tatkare, and core committee members will evaluate the proposal and make a decision. I reiterate that no proposal has come from the NCP (SP), thus, there is no immediate possibility of merging or collaboration between the two parties.”

NCP working president Praful Patel recently dismissed the likelihood of both NCP factions merging, stating that the topic has not been under consideration.

Conversely, former minister and senior NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse remarked: “Those who wished to leave the party have already made their choice. There is no chance of any merger or collaboration between both factions at this point. However, we will accept any decision made by our president, Sharad Pawar.”

Interestingly, the state executive of the NCP (SP) convened a lengthy meeting today with state unit chief Jayant Patil present.

The NCP (SP) has not contemplated a potential merger or alliance with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Instead, chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase clarified that the party focused on creating a comprehensive roadmap for its future endeavors and electoral strategies.

“Jayant Patil outlined the party’s immediate goals, stressing the need for strong readiness for the impending local self-government elections. He urged all district and taluka-level units to mobilize at the grassroots level and reinforce booth-wise operations to secure electoral victory. The state party chief also mentioned the necessity to expose the widespread corruption that exists within various government offices under the current administration. The NCP(SP) is dedicated to advocating for transparency, accountability, and justice for the common citizen, and the party cadre should address these issues,” Tapase stated in his announcement.

“To empower the younger generation, the party will actively work on strengthening its Youth and Women’s Wings by recruiting enthusiastic new volunteers, ensuring greater representation and dynamic participation in political processes. Leadership has also resolved to embark on statewide tours, where senior leaders will interact with citizens, listen to their concerns, and highlight the anti-people policies of the current government. Special focus will be given to tackling farmers’ distress, youth unemployment, and other pressing issues impacting the daily lives of the populace across Maharashtra,” Tapase added.

Tapase indicated that the state party chief might initiate new appointments and restructuring if deemed necessary, aimed at revitalizing the cadre and enhancing the party's agility and responsiveness.