‘Merger Not Possible’: Piyush Goyal Dismisses NCP Factions Reuniting, Says No Proposal Shared Yet

Last Updated:January 31, 2026, 16:31 IST

Piyush Goyal said neither Sunetra Pawar nor senior NCP leader Praful Patel had conveyed any information about a pending merger.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. (Image: PTI/File)

Union Minister Piyush Goyal has played down speculation about a possible reunion of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), saying there is no formal communication on any merger and that such a move appears unlikely.

In an exclusive interaction with CNN-News18, Goyal said neither Sunetra Pawar nor senior NCP leader Praful Patel had conveyed any information about a pending merger.

“We have been given no information by Sunetra Pawar or by Praful Patel regarding any merger. In my opinion, I don’t think a merger is possible," he said.

The remarks come amid heightened political buzz in Maharashtra over reports of rapprochement between NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP faction aligned with the BJP-led Mahayuti government.

He was killed an plane crash at the Baramati Airport earlier this week.

The speculation intensified after the two leaders met earlier this month, triggering talk of a possible party reunion.

Adding to the churn, Sunetra Pawar was on Saturday unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party at a meeting held at Mumbai’s Vidhan Bhavan.

Party leaders described the decision as a collective move reflecting the sentiments of workers. Her name was proposed by senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal and supported by other top functionaries. She is scheduled to take oath later in the day.

Soon after, Sharad Pawar made a startling claim that a merger between the two NCP factions was expected to take place on February 12. A purported video of a “final" meeting involving senior leaders further fuelled speculation, though no official announcement followed.

However, NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare rejected reports of merger talks, clarifying that the January 17 meeting between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar was limited to discussions on local body elections and an agriculture-related programme.

“There was no conversation on a merger," Tatkare said.

The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar over three decades ago, split in 2023 after Ajit Pawar broke away with the majority of MLAs, the party name and symbol, and joined the BJP-led coalition.

Sharad Pawar’s faction is now known as NCP (SP), led alongside his daughter Supriya Sule.

While rumours of reconciliation continue to swirl, senior leaders maintain that no concrete steps have been taken.

Asked about the possibility of a reunion, Sharad Pawar said discussions had taken place in the presence of Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil, adding that any decision would now rest with Patil.

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