Speculation surrounding a potential reunion of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has reached a fever pitch, fueled by fresh comments from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In a significant development, Pawar indicated that the internal friction within the Pawar family has been resolved and that workers from both sides are advocating for a merger.
Public Hints and a Historic Joint Appearance
The political landscape in Maharashtra witnessed a notable shift on Friday when Ajit Pawar, in an interview with NDTV, openly discussed the desire for unity. He revealed that workers from both NCP groups are in favour of a union and confirmed that all tensions within the Pawar family have now ended. This statement marks a departure from his previously evasive stance on the merger question.
Adding weight to the speculation, a historic joint political event is scheduled for Saturday. For the first time since the party split in July 2023, Ajit Pawar will share the stage with his cousin, Supriya Sule, the working president of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). The event, termed a 'common political programme,' will see the release of a combined NCP manifesto for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections, scheduled for January 15.
Alliance for Pune, Uncertainty Beyond
While the two groups, one led by Ajit Pawar and the other by his uncle and mentor Sharad Pawar, remain in opposing camps at both the Centre and the state level, they have forged an alliance specifically for the civic polls in Pune, which is the Pawar family's home district. When contacted by TOI, Supriya Sule clarified the scope of the current collaboration. She stated, "Yes, after the split, we are coming together for the first time for a joint political event, but this is for the development of Pune. At the moment, the alliance is only for the elections in PMC and PCMC. Let us see what happens next."
Ajit Pawar has been skillfully dropping hints about a possible merger over the past few weeks. When questioned by reporters in Pimpri last fortnight about giving a "green signal" for unification, he cryptically replied, "I will let you know if the signal is green, yellow or is red tomorrow." In another instance, when a reporter pointed out that his photo and Sharad Pawar's were displayed together on a banner, he responded with a Marathi saying, "Tuzya tondat sakhar pado (May your words come true)," further fueling the merger talks.
Internal Consensus and the Road Ahead
The sentiment for unity appears to be gaining traction within the party's leadership as well. On Thursday, Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare told reporters in Sambhajinagar that he has no personal objection to a possible merger of the two factions. However, he emphasized that any final decision would need to be taken collectively by the party's top leadership.
The evolving situation presents a fascinating political realignment in Maharashtra. The strategic alliance for the Pune civic polls, coupled with the resolved family discord and the overwhelming demand from party workers, sets the stage for a potential full-scale reunion. All eyes are now on the joint event on Saturday and the subsequent decisions that will shape the future of the NCP.
