Sharad Pawar denies defection rumors as NCP (SP) MPs stay united

Nationalist Congress Party (Splinter) chief Sharad Pawar told reporters that none of his party’s legislators will quit, rejecting claims that five of the eight NCP (SP) MPs might cross over to another faction. Working president Supriya Sule echoed the statement, saying all eight MPs are united and will remain so.

The denials come amid heightened tension in Maharashtra after six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs defected to the ruling Shiv Sena camp led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, intensifying fears of further realignments within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.