No merger: Sharad Pawar faction crushes merger talk with Ajit camp amid NCP rift

Senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar have firmly rejected any possibility of a merger with Ajit Pawar’s faction, even as the veteran leader maintained silence on the issue during a crucial strategy meeting in Maharashtra on Tuesday.

The closed-door meeting at Mumbai’s Y B Chavan Centre came ahead of the party’s June 10 foundation day celebrations and took place amid growing turmoil inside the rival Ajit Pawar camp.

The issue of a possible reunion dominated discussions after rumours intensified over the past few days, especially following a meeting between Sharad Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel. The speculation gathered further pace as resentment reportedly mounted against Patel and Tatkare within Ajit Pawar’s faction.

However, senior NCP (SP) leaders moved quickly to shut down the chatter.

While Sharad Pawar chose not to comment directly during the meeting, Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil dismissed all talk of a merger, making it clear that the party had no plans to reunite with Ajit Pawar’s faction.

The clarification, however, failed to fully calm anxieties within the party.

Several MLAs reportedly questioned the leadership over the merger rumours and pushed for a direct statement from Sharad Pawar himself. According to sources, some elected representatives said grassroots workers were confused and wanted the party chief to publicly spell out the official line.

TURMOIL IN AJIT PAWAR CAMP

The political uncertainty comes at a time when tensions are escalating within Ajit Pawar’s faction.

The latest flashpoint emerged after Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Sunetra Pawar excluded senior leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare from the party’s official National Executive list submitted to the Election Commission.

The move is being seen as a sign of deepening divisions within the Ajit Pawar camp and has opened a political opportunity for Sharad Pawar and his loyalists.

Adding to the pressure, sources claimed around 22 dissatisfied MLAs from the Ajit Pawar faction have already met Sharad Pawar in recent weeks. The meetings have fuelled speculation that several leaders could cross over if the unrest within the rival camp continues.

‘MERGER TALKS OVER’

In an attempt to draw a line under the speculation, Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Shashikant Shinde announced that all merger-related rumours had been put to rest.

Despite the public denial, political circles in Maharashtra continue to closely watch the developments inside both factions of the divided NCP, especially with signs of rebellion growing stronger within Ajit Pawar’s camp ahead of a politically crucial period for the party.

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