Supriya Sule rules out NCP merger or joining Maharashtra govt
Synopsis
Supriya Sule has drawn a hard line: no merger between NCP factions, no entry into Maharashtra's ruling government. With a core committee meeting already focused on the next election cycle and Sharad Pawar's own anti-BJP stance reinforcing the position, the NCP (SP) is signalling it intends to fight — not fold.
Key Takeaways
Supriya Sule on 29 August categorically ruled out any merger of NCP factions or joining the Maharashtra ruling government.
Earlier merger talks were limited to four leaders — Ajit Pawar , Supriya Sule , Jayant Patil , and Amol Kolhe — with Sharad Pawar kept informed.
A core committee meeting was held to plan strategy for upcoming local body elections and state assembly polls.
Sharad Pawar had separately ruled out any alignment with the BJP , reaffirming the party's opposition role.
Sule criticised the Election Commission of India 's decision on the party name and symbol, calling the handling inconsistent; the matter is pending in court.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) working president and Member of Parliament Supriya Sule on Saturday, 29 August categorically shut down speculation about a merger of the two NCP factions or her party joining the ruling government in Maharashtra. Speaking to a Marathi news channel, Sule made clear that her position on both counts is firm and non-negotiable.
What Sule Said
Dismissing merger talk, Sule pointed to the changed political landscape. 'Ajit Dada is no longer with us; what is there to discuss now?' she said. She clarified that earlier conversations about a possible merger had been confined to just four leaders — Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, and Amol Kolhe — with Sharad Pawar kept regularly informed.
On any prospect of joining the government, she was equally direct. 'The NCP is working with great strength, so the question of a merger does not arise at all. When there is no proposal in the first place, there is no question of joining the government,' she stated.
Core Committee Meeting and Election Roadmap
Sule's remarks came on the sidelines of a core committee meeting convened to map out the party's strategy for upcoming local body elections and the state assembly polls. Senior leaders present included state president Shashikant Shinde, Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Harshvardhan Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Rajesh Tope, Amol Kolhe, Nilesh Lanke, Fauziya Khan, Rajendra Shingane, and Ashok Pawar.
This comes amid heightened speculation about realignments in Maharashtra's fractured political landscape ahead of crucial civic polls. Notably, Sharad Pawar himself had ruled out any merger or alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just days earlier, reaffirming the NCP (SP)'s role as an opposition force.
On Rohit Pawar and Internal Democracy
Asked about Rohit Pawar's absence from a Sharad Pawar-led meeting and reports of his growing proximity to the Congress, Sule declined to offer any guidance, saying the party practises internal democracy. She remarked that restlessness is natural at his age, signalling she would not publicly intervene.
One NCP, One Legacy
Sule was emphatic that she recognises only one NCP — the party founded by Sharad Pawar. 'No one should be under the misconception that there are two or three NCPs. The NCP was Pawar Saheb's yesterday, it is his today, and it will remain his tomorrow. The party was snatched away in a wrong manner, and it should rightly be returned to him,' she said, adding that the matter remains sub judice.
On the question of succession, she deferred entirely to the party founder. 'He will decide who his successor will be. It could be anyone. That is his internal matter because the party has belonged to him since its inception,' she added. She also criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s decision to strip the Sharad Pawar faction of the party name and symbol, alleging inconsistency in how the NCP and Shiv Sena cases were handled compared to the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Sule praised Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for forming a separate party when differences arose within his political family, contrasting that path with the manner in which the NCP and Shiv Sena splits were engineered. With local body and assembly elections on the horizon, the NCP (SP)'s next moves will be closely watched.
Point of View
Including Ajit Pawar, had actually held merger discussions: that is a significant concession buried inside a denial. With the party's name and symbol still locked in a court battle and Rohit Pawar's loyalties visibly ambiguous, the NCP (SP)'s internal cohesion is more fragile than the confident tone suggests. The real test comes not in press statements but in the candidate lists for local body elections.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Supriya Sule ruled out a merger between NCP factions?
Yes. Supriya Sule on 29 August categorically stated that the question of a merger does not arise, adding that with Ajit Pawar no longer aligned with the Sharad Pawar faction, there is nothing left to discuss. She said the NCP (SP) is working with full strength as an opposition party.
Why did merger talks happen in the first place?
According to Sule, earlier discussions on a possible merger were limited to four leaders — Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil, and Amol Kolhe — with Sharad Pawar kept regularly informed. She indicated those talks are now effectively over given the changed political circumstances.
What did the NCP (SP) core committee meeting discuss?
The core committee met to chalk out the party's roadmap for upcoming local body elections and the Maharashtra state assembly polls. Senior leaders including Shashikant Shinde, Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, Jitendra Awhad, and others were present.
What is Supriya Sule's position on the NCP name and symbol dispute?
Sule maintains that there is only one NCP — the one founded by Sharad Pawar — and that the party name and symbol were taken away wrongfully. She criticised the Election Commission's handling of the case, alleging inconsistency compared to the Trinamool Congress case, and confirmed the matter remains pending in court.
Who will succeed Sharad Pawar as NCP (SP) leader?
Sule said the succession decision rests entirely with Sharad Pawar. 'He will decide who his successor will be. It could be anyone. That is his internal matter,' she stated, declining to indicate any preference or timeline.
