Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Rohit Pawar on Saturday, 16 May said that a merger of the two rival NCP factions remains a distant prospect unless the Ajit Pawar-led NCP demonstrates a genuine willingness to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on issues affecting ordinary citizens. Rohit Pawar was categorical that current talks of reunification lack any real substance.

Background: Foundation Day Meetings Fuel Merger Speculation

The NCP's foundation day falls on 10 June, and high-level meetings were convened in the run-up to the occasion under the leadership of Sharad Pawar. These gatherings sparked fresh speculation in Maharashtra's political circles about a possible rapprochement between the two factions — one led by Sharad Pawar and the other by his nephew Ajit Pawar, who had broken away to align with the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Rohit Pawar's Conditions for Any Merger

Dismissing the buzz, Rohit Pawar said the meetings were primarily about organisational matters and foundation day planning. 'Organisational changes and planning for the foundation day must have been discussed in the meeting. Even if NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel met Sharad Pawar, the resentment among party workers will not dissipate until a clear stance against fighting the BJP is established,' he said.

His remarks signal that rank-and-file workers in the Sharad Pawar camp remain deeply sceptical of any reconciliation without a firm ideological commitment from the Ajit Pawar faction to oppose the BJP.

Sharp Dig at Maval MLA Sunil Shelke

Rohit Pawar also turned his fire on Maval MLA Sunil Shelke, who had reportedly criticised him. 'When Ajit Pawar was in trouble, Shelke never spoke up. But when Sunil Tatkare faces trouble, you suddenly speak out,' Rohit Pawar said pointedly.

He went further, challenging the Ajit Pawar faction to use its position in government to push for resolution of pending Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases and FIRs against its own leaders. 'Despite being in power, why aren't you pursuing the CBI cases or FIRs against Ajit Pawar with the Central Government? Nothing happens by simply sending reminders. If you have the courage, resolve these cases once and for all,' he said.

Rohit Pawar Raises Farmers' Irrigation Grievances

Separately, on Friday, 15 May, Rohit Pawar met officials from the Water Resources Department to discuss the functioning of the Janai-Shirsai Lift Irrigation Scheme. He raised a range of grievances flagged by farmers, including non-receipt of water as per designated quotas, transit losses, inadequate rotation periods, water tax rates, and the need to implement the scheme through closed pipelines with survey group number-wise assessments.

Farmers from Baramati and Purandar were present at the meeting. Officials reportedly assured Rohit Pawar that the grievances would be addressed. He demanded immediate resolution, underlining the scheme's importance to agricultural communities in his constituency.

With the NCP's foundation day approaching and Maharashtra's political realignments still fluid, the coming weeks will test whether either faction blinks first on the question of reunification.