Fadnavis: BJP will back NCP's growth but bar its leaders from joining
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has drawn a hard line: the BJP will prop up Ajit Pawar's NCP within the Mahayuti alliance, but none of its leaders will be absorbed into the BJP. The declaration signals a calibrated strategy to keep the coalition intact without diluting BJP's organisational identity — a delicate balancing act in Maharashtra's notoriously volatile political landscape.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis on 30 April 2025 confirmed that BJP will support the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) but will not induct any of its leaders.
Fadnavis said the NCP has shown signs of consolidation and is expected to stabilise fully in the coming period.
On the Ashok Kharat case , Fadnavis assured the probe is being handled with "utmost professionalism" and legal action will be evidence-based.
The Chief Minister clarified that the TCS-related case is serious but the company itself is not at fault.
Fadnavis rejected claims that Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was kept uninformed about NCP-related political developments.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 30 April drew a clear line on cross-party defections, stating that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would support the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, no leader from the Ajit Pawar faction would be allowed to join the BJP. The remarks came during an interactive session organised by local television channels in Mumbai.
Firm Stand on Party Defections
Amid swirling speculation over possible political crossovers within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, CM Fadnavis was unequivocal.
Point of View
But refuse absorption so the BJP does not cannibalise its own organisational space. Maharashtra politics since 2019 has been defined by defections, split parties, and shifting loyalties, and Fadnavis is acutely aware that opening BJP's doors to NCP leaders could trigger a chain of demands from other alliance partners. The reassurance to Eknath Shinde — that he was kept fully informed — also suggests internal trust deficits within the coalition that the CM is actively managing. Whether the NCP stabilises as Fadnavis predicts, or fractures further, will be the real test of this alliance's durability ahead of local body elections.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Fadnavis say about NCP leaders joining the BJP?
CM Devendra Fadnavis categorically stated that while the BJP would provide all necessary support to sustain and strengthen the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), no leader from the NCP would be inducted into the BJP. He made these remarks at an interactive session in Mumbai on 30 April 2025.
How did Fadnavis assess the stability of the NCP under Ajit Pawar?
Fadnavis expressed confidence that the NCP is gradually stabilising, noting that initial uncertainty within the party has given way to signs of consolidation over the past few months. He said he believes the party will stabilise fully in the coming period.
What did Fadnavis say about the Ashok Kharat case?
The Chief Minister stated that the Ashok Kharat case investigation is being conducted with utmost professionalism and that arrests cannot be made solely on the basis of viral photographs. He assured that anyone found guilty will not be spared.
Was Deputy CM Eknath Shinde kept in the dark about NCP developments?
Fadnavis rejected this claim, stating that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was fully informed about political developments related to the NCP. He described contradictory statements made at the time as unconvincing.
What did Fadnavis say about the TCS-related case?
CM Fadnavis described the TCS-related case as serious but clarified that the company itself was not at fault in the incident. He did not elaborate further on the specifics of the case.
