[CLSTR]
< Back to situation

[REVISION HISTORY]

NCP factions face BJP pressure for merger, talks intensify

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-08 19:34 UTC → 2026-08-11 03:41 UTC · added removed

The BJP has continued to press the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) splinter groups – the Sharad Pawar-led faction and the Sunetra Pawar-Ajit Pawar faction – to reunite before any formal inclusion in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). On 13 June, working president Supriya Sule denied reports of a merger proposal between her NCP-SP and the Indian National Congress. Five days later, Sharad Pawar rejected rumors of MP defections. By 10 July, senior NCP leaders Ekhand Khadse and Supriya Sule rejected BJP alliance talks. A meeting on 15 July with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sparked speculation regarding Sharad Pawar joining the BJP-led alliance. On 17 July, the BJP tied potential cabinet berths for a united NCP to the NDA's need for a majority to pass a women's reservation amendment and the upcoming delimitation bill. Following a meeting between Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 July, and separate talks between Amit Shah and NCP leaders on 27 July, merger speculation persisted despite denials of any formal offers. On 7 August, a meeting between Sunetra Pawar and strategist Prashant Kishor led BJP Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to warn Mahayuti alliance partners against actions that could destabilize the coalition. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare dismissed the meeting as a courtesy call, denying Kishor had an advisory role. On 10 8 August, all a delegation of eight MPs from the Sharad Pawar faction are scheduled to meet NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MPs, led by Supriya Sule, met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi to discuss Maharashtra development projects Delhi. The delegation focused on regional development, including the Nashik–Pune high-speed railway, irrigation issues, and constituency-specific interests. farmer concerns, while explicitly dismissing rumors of joining the NDA or supporting the Delimitation Bill as “strictly non-political.” On 11 August, Prime Minister Modi, Sharad Pawar, and Amit Shah attended a wedding reception for Revati Sule in Delhi.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-11 03:41 UTC NCP factions face BJP pressure for merger, talks intensify
  2. 2026-08-08 19:34 UTC NCP factions face BJP pressure for merger, talks intensify
  3. 2026-08-07 18:41 UTC NCP factions face BJP pressure for merger, talks intensify
  4. 2026-07-28 11:09 UTC NCP factions face BJP pressure for merger, talks intensify

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.