Supriya Sule denies NCP(SP) backing Delimitation Bill or joining NDA
Synopsis
Supriya Sule walked into a Mumbai press conference on 15 July to put out a fire her party did not start. With media reports citing unnamed sources to claim NCP(SP) was ready to back the Delimitation Bill and even join the NDA, Sule went on record to deny everything — and notably called her MVA allies first to make sure the coalition held.
Key Takeaways
Supriya Sule on 15 July categorically denied that NCP(SP) would support the Centre’s Delimitation Bill or join the NDA .
Sule said the party has received no proposal or deal regarding the Bill and will declare its stance within 24 hours of the draft being tabled.
She personally consulted Sharad Pawar , Jayant Patil , and state chief Shashikanth Shinde before the press conference.
Sule reached out to Congress leaders Harshwardhan Sapkal and Satej Patil , and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut to reassure MVA allies.
Reports of the party being offered the Finance Ministry portfolio in Maharashtra and Jayant Patil’s visit to CM Devendra Fadnavis had fuelled the speculation.
Supriya Sule, working president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) [NCP(SP)] and Member of Parliament, on Wednesday, 15 July categorically dismissed media reports claiming her party would support the Centre's upcoming Delimitation Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament or align with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Sule termed the speculation entirely baseless and said the party had received no proposal or deal regarding the Bill.
What Sule Said
Sule was unambiguous in her denial. “The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) has not made any official statement on the Delimitation Bill. Everything being reported regarding our party’s policy and stance is based on ‘unnamed sources’,” she said. She added that if and when a draft Bill is officially tabled, the party will analyse it and announce its position within 24 hours.
Sule also confirmed she had personally consulted senior party leadership before the press conference. “I have spoken with Sharad Pawar Saheb, Jayant Patil, state chief Shashikanth Shinde, as well as our MLAs and MPs, before coming here to clarify our position,” she stated.
Outreach to MVA Allies
To pre-empt any confusion within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, Sule said she had reached out to Congress state leaders Harshwardhan Sapkal and Satej Patil, as well as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, earlier on Wednesday to reassure them of the party’s continued commitment to the opposition bloc.
What Triggered the Speculation
The rumours had been circulating since Wednesday morning, with several media outlets citing Sule to report that the Sharad Pawar faction was preparing to back the constitutional amendment Bill on constituency delimitation. Political observers quickly framed the reported move as a potential step toward the NCP(SP) joining the NDA in Maharashtra.
Adding to the speculation, reports suggested the party was being offered the key Finance Ministry portfolio in the state government — a claim that reportedly sparked friction with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, which was said to be insistent on retaining the post. Separately, NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil visited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence ‘Varsha’ on Tuesday night, fuelling further conjecture.
The Sharad Pawar Seating Episode
Sule also addressed a specific incident that had raised eyebrows — Sharad Pawar’s presence in Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s cabin during a recent Parliament visit. “Pawar Saheb went and sat there simply because he cannot walk long distances,” she explained. She added that it was “very gracious” of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde to step out of an ongoing Cabinet meeting to welcome Pawar and present him with a bouquet.
Party's Firm Stand
Sule concluded with a direct message to both the media and her party’s workers. “We have received no proposal from the NDA, and we are not going anywhere. We remain firmly where we are, working for the people,” she said. She urged journalists to rely only on official, on-the-record statements rather than speculative sourcing. “The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) is not joining the NDA,” she asserted. How the party ultimately responds once the Delimitation Bill is formally tabled will be the next critical test of that position.
Point of View
Naming the ‘responsible newspaper’ without naming it, and going on camera rather than issuing a statement — signals that the NCP(SP) leadership took the rumours seriously enough to do damage control. That itself is telling. The Jayant Patil–Fadnavis meeting at ‘Varsha’ and the Finance Ministry portfolio reports may have had no substance, but in Maharashtra’s fractured political landscape, optics move alliances. The bigger question the media should be asking is not whether NCP(SP) will join the NDA today, but whether the MVA can hold together if the Delimitation Bill forces uncomfortable votes in Parliament.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Supriya Sule say about the Delimitation Bill?
Sule said NCP(SP) has made no official statement on the Delimitation Bill and has received no proposal or deal from the Centre regarding it. She added that once a draft is officially tabled, the party will study it and announce its position within 24 hours.
Is NCP(SP) joining the NDA in Maharashtra?
No, according to Sule’s on-record statement on 15 July. She categorically denied reports of the party aligning with the NDA or Mahayuti, saying, ‘The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) is not joining the NDA.’
What triggered the rumours about NCP(SP) and the NDA?
Several media outlets cited unnamed sources to claim the Sharad Pawar faction was ready to back the Delimitation Bill and was being offered the Finance Ministry portfolio in Maharashtra. Jayant Patil’s visit to CM Devendra Fadnavis at ‘Varsha’ on Tuesday night added to the speculation.
Why did Sharad Pawar sit in Eknath Shinde’s cabin?
Sule clarified that Pawar sat in Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s cabin because he cannot walk long distances, and that Shinde stepped out of a Cabinet meeting to welcome him and present a bouquet. She described it as a courteous gesture, not a political signal.
What is the Delimitation Bill and why is it significant?
The Delimitation Bill is a proposed constitutional amendment that would redraw parliamentary and assembly constituency boundaries. It is expected to be taken up in the Monsoon Session of Parliament and has become politically sensitive, particularly for southern and opposition-governed states that fear losing seats based on population data.
