Jayant Patil dismisses NCP merger rumours after late-night Fadnavis meet
Synopsis
A late-night visit to CM Fadnavis's official residence set off merger and Cabinet rumours across Maharashtra — but NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil says it was nothing more than a 5-to-10-minute meeting about a demolition threat in his constituency. His swift, detailed rebuttal signals the Sharad Pawar faction is wary of any perception of political drift.
Key Takeaways
Jayant Patil visited CM Devendra Fadnavis at 'Varsha' on Tuesday night, 15 July 2025 , for a 5-to-10-minute meeting on a constituency demolition issue.
Patil denied meeting NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel and ruled out any merger or political realignment talks.
He dismissed speculation about being considered for the Finance Minister post, saying portfolio decisions rest solely with CM Fadnavis .
A separate encounter with BJP 's Vinod Tawde was described as incidental — a coffee meeting at a Parliamentary Committee gathering also attended by Supriya Sule .
Patil said the NCP (SP) 's stance on the Delimitation Bill and 'One Nation, One Election' will be decided by working president Supriya Sule and the party's 8-MP group in Parliament.
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly member Jayant Patil on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, firmly denied speculation about a party merger or Cabinet berth, a day after a late-night visit to 'Varsha' — Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's official residence in Mumbai — triggered intense political chatter across the state.
What the Meeting Was Actually About
Patil clarified that his visit on Tuesday night was strictly tied to a constituency-level administrative matter involving a demolition threat in his assembly segment. 'I sought an appointment with the Chief Minister regarding a local issue in my constituency. I requested some of the CM's time,' he said.
He recounted waiting in the hall at Varsha while Fadnavis wrapped up prior engagements. When the Chief Minister finally met him, the interaction lasted a brief 5 to 10 minutes. Fadnavis assured Patil he would look into the matter, which falls under the Urban Development Department — administered by the Chief Minister's office.
Patil also explained why he approached Fadnavis directly: he had first tried to reach Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but Shinde's phone was switched off as he had travelled to Delhi.
Merger Talks and Cabinet Speculation Flatly Denied
Patil categorically ruled out any discussion with NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel during the visit. 'If such a meeting had occurred, I would have openly admitted it,' he said. He added that talks of a party merger or political realignment have 'completely ceased.'
'We are all united behind Sharad Pawar. It saddens me that the media continuously cooks up such speculative stories,' Patil remarked.
When asked whether he was being considered for the state's Finance Minister post, Patil laughed off the suggestion. 'I haven't given it a single thought, so why are you projecting so far ahead? Portfolio allocation is the sole prerogative of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. By speculating like this, you are trying to bypass the Chief Minister's authority,' he responded.
The Vinod Tawde Encounter Explained
Patil also addressed circulating rumours about a separate recent meeting with BJP leader Vinod Tawde. He described the encounter as entirely incidental — it took place on the sidelines of a Parliamentary Committee gathering where NCP MP Supriya Sule was also present. 'We merely shared a cup of coffee during the event. There was no political agenda behind it,' Patil clarified.
Party Stance on Delimitation Bill and One Nation One Election
On the Delimitation Bill and the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal currently before Parliament, Patil deferred to the party's central leadership. He noted that the NCP (SP)'s group of eight MPs is led by Supriya Sule, who will formulate the party's official position on both Bills.
'These Bills are coming up in Parliament. Since I am a member of the Legislative Assembly, I cannot interfere. Our working president will decide the party's official position,' Patil said. He added that Sule has consistently championed women's representation and that the final call rests with her.
With Maharashtra's political landscape already fractured along factional lines, Wednesday's clarification is unlikely to fully extinguish speculation — but it draws a clear, public line from one of the NCP (SP)'s senior voices.
Point of View
Which reflects the fragility of the Sharad Pawar faction's internal cohesion after the 2023 NCP split. Patil's insistence that 'merger talks have completely ceased' is notable precisely because he felt the need to say it unprompted. The real question is not whether this meeting was innocent — it probably was — but whether the NCP (SP) can hold its legislators together as the Mahayuti government consolidates power and Cabinet vacancies remain a persistent lure.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jayant Patil meet CM Devendra Fadnavis late at night?
Patil visited Fadnavis at 'Varsha' on Tuesday night to raise a constituency-level administrative issue involving a demolition threat in his assembly segment. The meeting lasted 5 to 10 minutes and Fadnavis assured him the matter would be looked into.
Did Jayant Patil discuss an NCP merger with the CM or other NCP leaders?
No. Patil categorically denied meeting NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare or Praful Patel and ruled out any merger or political realignment discussions. He said such talks have 'completely ceased' and that the NCP (SP) remains united behind Sharad Pawar.
Is Jayant Patil being considered for the Finance Minister post in Maharashtra?
Patil dismissed the speculation, saying he had not given it 'a single thought.' He emphasised that portfolio allocation is entirely the prerogative of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
What was the Jayant Patil and Vinod Tawde meeting about?
Patil said the encounter with BJP leader Vinod Tawde was incidental — it occurred at a Parliamentary Committee gathering where NCP MP Supriya Sule was also present. He said they only shared coffee and there was no political agenda.
What is NCP (SP)'s position on the Delimitation Bill and One Nation One Election?
Patil deferred the decision to the party's central leadership, saying working president Supriya Sule will determine the official stance. The party's group of eight MPs in Parliament will coordinate the response to both Bills.
