- By Chetna Shree
- Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
As calls for a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) intensify, the party leadership on Monday firmly ruled out an immediate reunification. During a meeting of MLAs at ‘Devgiri’, the official residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, on Monday, the leadership issued a gag order, instructing legislators to avoid speaking publicly about the issue and clarifying that there is no immediate plan to pursue a merger.
"The leadership sees no immediate need to pursue a merger. The issue may be revisited closer to 2028, a year before the assembly elections, and assessed in light of the prevailing political climate," Hindustan Times quoted a party insider as saying.
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Several NCP legislators, including Narhari Zirwal, Anil Patil, and recently Hiraman Khoskar, have publicly supported talks of a merger between the two factions of NCP. Khoskar even claimed that 30-35 MLAs are in favour of the merger of both NCP factions. However, NCP leadership, particularly Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, have categorically denied engaging in any such discussions.
Sunetra Pawar To Be Elected As NCP's National President
Following the sudden death of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a deadly plane crash in Baramati, the party's National Working President, Praful Patel, on Monday moved to elect Sunetra Pawar as the next NCP president.
The proposal was supported by all the MLAs through a show of hands during the meeting on Monday. However, a formal decision will be taken following the party's executive committee meeting in Mumbai on February 26. Patel said that Sunetra is expected to be elected unopposed as the national president of NCP.
Earlier, on February 10, Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday took charge as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. The newly appointed Deputy CM was allocated the portfolios of State Excise Duty, Sports and Youth Affairs, Minorities Development and Auqaf.