The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has rejected speculation about internal differences following a meeting between six senior party leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Monday. The party maintained that the meeting was planned in advance and that there was no division within its ranks.
NCP national chief spokesperson Umesh Patil dismissed reports suggesting that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and party president Sunetra Pawar and Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar had been sidelined. He described such claims as “incorrect, baseless and misleading”.
The clarification came after senior NCP leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Dilip Walse Patil, Hassan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde met Shah in Delhi. The meeting triggered speculation that the BJP was considering a merger of the two NCP factions to strengthen the NDA.
Patil said the meeting had already been scheduled. He explained that Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar had previously met Shah to discuss issues concerning the party following the death of Ajit Pawar. During that interaction, Sunetra Pawar had informed Shah about the proposed meeting of senior NCP leaders and requested an appointment.
According to Patil, the delegation discussed party-related matters, Maharashtra’s interests and issues concerning their respective constituencies. The leaders also held informal discussions with representatives of other Mahayuti alliance partners.
Rejecting reports of a lack of coordination, Patil said the NCP remained united under Sunetra Pawar’s leadership. He also urged the media not to give unnecessary political interpretations to routine meetings between alliance partners.
The party reiterated that the Delhi meeting was a formal interaction and had no connection with reports of internal divisions or the alleged exclusion of Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar.