'Not correct': NCP (SP) says merger with Ajit Pawar faction off table, rejects 'push' narrative

NEW DELHI: The Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) connected Saturday dismissed what it termed a “perception” that it had been aggressively pursuing a merger with the rival NCP radical headed by Ajit Pawar, who died successful a level clang past month.The last determination connected a merger was to instrumentality spot aft the caller section assemblage polls and its model was to beryllium decided done discussions, according to NCP (SP) Maharashtra portion main Shashikant Shinde."A cognition is being created that we were pushing aggressively for a merger. This is not correct. We person present decided to rebuild our party. The contented (of merger) has been closed by the NCP (SP)," Shinde told reporters successful Mumbai.“There is nary constituent successful discussing a imaginable merger arsenic determination is nary person near to clasp talks with,” helium added, referring to Ajit Pawar, who had divided the undivided NCP successful July 2023 and aligned with the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.The Election Commission recognises the Ajit Pawar faction arsenic the “real” NCP.Shinde besides referred to his nonfiction connected the precocious Maharashtra lawman main minister, who was serving his sixth word successful the station astatine the clip of his decease and was the state’s longest-serving lawman main minister.

The NCP criticised the portion — published successful the February 2026 variation of the NCP (SP) mouthpiece "Rashtravadi" — alleging that it contained “false and misleading” claims astir the circumstances nether which the Maratha person exited the undivided party.In the article, Shinde wrote that “manoeuvres by invisible forces, threats, and a web of mendacious allegations” had created a concern that compelled Ajit Pawar to permission the genitor organisation, resulting successful the divided successful the enactment founded by his uncle Sharad Pawar.Clarifying his remarks, the NCP (SP) MLC said helium had not suggested that Ajit Pawar had made a mistake. “I lone said helium wanted to rectify the part of the party,” helium stated.Meanwhile, Maharashtra curate and elder NCP person Chhagan Bhujbal questioned the request for "daily discussions" connected a imaginable merger.“Sunetra Pawar (Ajit Pawar’s wife) is present the lawman CM and volition soon beryllium the NCP nationalist president. She volition sermon the substance and instrumentality a call,” Bhujbal said.“When Sunetra Pawar was sworn successful arsenic lawman CM, determination was disapproval astir the haste. Why is determination akin haste successful talking astir a merger?” helium asked.(With PTI inputs)