Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar on Tuesday, 28 July categorically ruled out any merger between the two rival NCP factions, declaring there is 'no question' of the estranged camps joining hands. His denial comes even as a cluster of high-profile meetings in New Delhi involving leaders from both NCP factions and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership had triggered a wave of political speculation across Maharashtra.

What Triggered the Speculation

The rumour mill went into overdrive following a sequence of political interactions in the national capital over the past week. Sharad Pawar and his daughter, Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, held a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This came shortly after Pawar engaged with students demonstrating against the Centre at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, and days after the NCP (SP) signalled conditional willingness to back the proposed Delimitation Bill, contingent on fair representation assurances. Officially, Pawar said he urged the Prime Minister to address a deepening agricultural crisis and student grievances.

A day later, Pawar met Rajya Sabha MPs Praful Patel and Parth Pawar from the Ajit Pawar-led faction, sharpening chatter about a possible reconciliation between the two camps.

Amit Shah's Separate Meetings

Union Home Minister Amit Shah separately met key figures from both sides, including NCP (SP) MPs Supriya Sule and Bajrang Sonawane, as well as Maharashtra NCP President Sunil Tatkare. Political observers noted that the convergence of meetings — across factional lines — was unusual enough to sustain speculation about a broader realignment.

Reportedly, BJP strategists favour a unified NCP folding into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rather than maintaining two separate political arrangements. However, neither the BJP nor either NCP faction has formally acknowledged any negotiations toward a merger.

NCP (SP) Leaders Push Back

Leaders from the NCP (SP) have firmly rejected the NDA alignment narrative. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar was unequivocal: 'Sharad Pawar will not go with the NDA. Most of the MLAs and MPs from our side are ready for the fight. I have remained with the people and with his principles, and I will continue to fight in the future as well. I will not join the NDA.'

Rohit Pawar also clarified that Sharad Pawar's meeting with PM Modi was centred on student welfare and farm sector concerns — not political negotiations.

The Wedding Invitation Explanation

Supriya Sule's meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah has been explained as a courtesy call to deliver invitations for the upcoming wedding reception of her daughter Revati Sule and Sarang Lakhani, scheduled for 10 August in Delhi. Several Union ministers and MPs are expected to attend the function.

What Observers Are Watching

Despite official denials from all parties involved, the concentration of cross-factional meetings in Delhi continues to keep Maharashtra's political analysts on alert. This is not the first time reunification talk has surfaced since the NCP split, and the pattern of meetings — followed by denials — has become a recurring feature of post-split Maharashtra politics. Whether the denials hold or the speculation reflects deeper back-channel conversations remains to be seen.