The NCP merger story has taken a new turn. NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president and Baramati MP Supriya Sule said on 12 November 2026 that talks to bring the two NCP factions together were underway when Ajit Pawar was alive and the outcome was broadly expected, but that the talks ended with his death. She said she has not held any merger discussions since and has received no proposal.
Her statement comes after weeks of speculation, including a claim by NCP state president Sunil Tatkare that the merger would have happened if Ajit Pawar were alive, reports that Ajit faction MLAs wanted to meet Sharad Pawar, and Rohit Pawar’s public praise for Sonia Gandhi. In this Election Guru explainer we cover exactly what Sule said, the full timeline, each leader’s position, the numbers in the Assembly and what could happen next.
Supriya Sule’s NCP Merger Statement at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Who | Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) leader and Baramati MP |
| When | 12 November 2026 |
| Key claim | Merger talks were on when Ajit Pawar was alive; outcome was broadly expected |
| After Ajit Pawar’s death | Talks ended; no discussions since |
| Any proposal? | None received; “I don’t know what you are talking about.” |
| On leaders meeting Sharad Pawar | Normal political process; many leaders meet him |
What Supriya Sule Said
- Talks between the two NCP factions were underway when Ajit Pawar was alive, and the outcome was broadly expected at the time
- The talks ended with Ajit Pawar’s death, and she has held no merger discussions with anyone since
- She has no information about any merger proposal and has received none: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
- Leaders meeting Sharad Pawar is a normal political process, and leaders from many parties have met him
- Whom leaders meet is an internal party decision
Sunil Tatkare’s Claim
Sule’s statement echoes what Sunil Tatkare, state president of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, had said earlier: “If Ajit Pawar had been alive, the merger of the two factions would have taken place.” A report on 7 November quoted Tatkare as saying the merger would have happened in February. Both sides now agree that talks were real, but differ on what happens next.
Full Timeline of the NCP Merger Buzz
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| July 2023 | Ajit Pawar splits NCP and joins the Shinde-Fadnavis government |
| February 2024 | Election Commission recognises Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP |
| 2024 | Lok Sabha and Assembly elections fought as rival parties |
| Before his death | Merger talks underway, according to Sule and Tatkare |
| 3 Nov 2026 | Sunetra Pawar calls a crucial MLA meeting |
| 5 Nov 2026 | Sharad Pawar stable, under observation at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai |
| 6 Nov 2026 | Talks reportedly gain pace; Sunetra and Parth Pawar oppose; BJP eyes Sharad Pawar in NDA (report) |
| 7 Nov 2026 | Tatkare: merger would have happened in February if Ajit Pawar were alive |
| 8 Nov 2026 | A Maharashtra minister claims merger is in final stages |
| 10 Nov 2026 | Ajit faction MLAs seek meeting with Sharad Pawar; BJP rules out talks (report) |
| 11 Nov 2026 | Rohit Pawar praises Sonia Gandhi |
| 12 Nov 2026 | Supriya Sule says talks ended; no proposal received |
Praful Patel’s Hospital Visit
Senior NCP leader Praful Patel visited Sharad Pawar when he was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. A video of the two in conversation in the hospital room later surfaced and fuelled speculation about a reunion. After Sharad Pawar was discharged, he held long meetings at his residence with Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s son, and other leaders.
Rohit Pawar Praises Sonia Gandhi
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar posted praise for Sonia Gandhi, referring to her new memoir “Belonging: A Journey of Love”. He said she showed him compassion when he sought an impartial probe into the plane crash in which Ajit Pawar died. His post was seen as a signal that a section of NCP (SP) remains close to the Congress, rather than looking towards the NDA.
Also Read: Sonia Gandhi Memoir Belonging: Biggest Revelations Explained
Where Each Leader Stands
| Leader | Faction | Position (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| Sharad Pawar | NCP (SP) | Meeting leaders from all sides; no public statement on merger |
| Supriya Sule | NCP (SP) | Talks ended with Ajit Pawar’s death; no proposal received |
| Rohit Pawar | NCP (SP) | Praised Sonia Gandhi; sought probe into crash |
| Sunil Tatkare | NCP | Merger would have happened if Ajit Pawar were alive |
| Praful Patel | NCP | Met Sharad Pawar in hospital |
| Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar | NCP | Reported to oppose the merger move |
| BJP | Ally of NCP | Reportedly ruled out talks |
NCP vs NCP (SP): The Numbers
| Election | NCP (Ajit faction) | NCP (SP) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Lok Sabha (Maharashtra, 48 seats) | 1 | 8 |
| 2024 Assembly (288 seats) | 41 | 10 |
The NCP is part of the ruling Mahayuti with the BJP and Shiv Sena, while the NCP (SP) is in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi with the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT). Any merger would therefore change both alliances. A reunited NCP with about 51 MLAs would be a significant force in the 288-member Assembly.
Also Read: NCP Merger 2026: Will Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s Parties Reunite?
Who Is Supriya Sule?
Supriya Sule is Sharad Pawar’s daughter and one of the most prominent faces of the NCP (SP). She was a Rajya Sabha member from 2006 to 2009 and has represented Baramati in the Lok Sabha since 2009, winning four consecutive elections. In 2024, she defeated her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar in a high-profile Baramati contest. She is the working president of the NCP (SP).
| Year | Supriya Sule Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Elected to Rajya Sabha |
| 2009 | Wins Baramati Lok Sabha seat |
| 2014 | Re-elected from Baramati |
| 2019 | Re-elected from Baramati |
| 2023 | Named NCP working president |
| 2024 | Defeats Sunetra Pawar in Baramati |
What Could Happen Next
- Status quo: both factions stay in rival alliances; merger talk fades
- Merger into NDA: NCP (SP) joins the ruling side, which the BJP has reportedly ruled out for now
- Partial moves: individual MLAs switching sides rather than a formal merger
- Revival of talks: if Sharad Pawar makes a public call
How the NCP Split Happened
On 2 July 2023, Ajit Pawar, along with a large group of NCP MLAs, joined the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government, and he was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. Senior leaders such as Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil and Sunil Tatkare went with him. Sharad Pawar, who founded the NCP in 1999, stayed in the opposition. In February 2024, the Election Commission recognised Ajit Pawar’s group as the real NCP and gave it the “clock” symbol, while Sharad Pawar’s group became the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) with the “man blowing tutari” symbol.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 June 1999 | Sharad Pawar founds NCP after leaving Congress |
| 2 July 2023 | Ajit Pawar joins government; NCP splits |
| 6 February 2024 | ECI recognises Ajit faction as NCP |
| June 2024 | NCP (SP) wins 8 Lok Sabha seats; NCP wins 1 |
| November 2024 | NCP wins 41 Assembly seats; NCP (SP) wins 10 |
Why a Merger Is Complicated
- Opposite alliances: NCP is with the BJP in government; NCP (SP) is with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT)
- Leadership: who would lead a united NCP after Ajit Pawar’s death is unclear
- Family dynamics: Sunetra and Parth Pawar reportedly oppose the move
- BJP’s view: BJP has reportedly ruled out talks
- Legal questions: symbol and party name now belong to the Ajit Pawar faction
Baramati: The Heart of Pawar Politics
Baramati in Pune district has been the political base of the Pawar family for decades. Sharad Pawar represented it for years, Ajit Pawar was the Baramati MLA, and Supriya Sule has held the Lok Sabha seat since 2009. The 2024 Lok Sabha contest between Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar was one of the most watched family battles in Indian politics, and Sule won it. Any merger would have to settle the question of who leads in Baramati.
What the Merger Talk Means for Maharashtra Politics
A merged NCP would change the balance in both alliances. If NCP (SP) joined the ruling side, the Maha Vikas Aghadi would lose one of its three pillars, leaving the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) weaker before the next civic and state elections. If the Ajit Pawar faction’s MLAs drifted towards Sharad Pawar instead, the Mahayuti government would still have a majority because the BJP and Shiv Sena together hold a large number of seats, but it would lose some of its strength. For now, both sides are saying different things, and Sharad Pawar’s silence keeps everyone guessing.
| Scenario | Impact on Mahayuti | Impact on MVA |
|---|---|---|
| No merger | No change | No change |
| NCP (SP) joins NDA | Stronger | Much weaker |
| Ajit faction MLAs drift to Sharad Pawar | Weaker but stable | Stronger |
Election Guru Analysis
Supriya Sule’s remarks are important because they confirm, from the Sharad Pawar side, that merger talks were real before Ajit Pawar’s death, while firmly saying there is nothing on the table now. Together with Tatkare’s statement, it suggests both sides once saw reunion as likely. Today, with Sunetra and Parth Pawar reportedly opposed, the BJP cautious and Rohit Pawar signalling closeness to the Congress, the path to a merger looks uncertain. Sharad Pawar’s next move will be decisive.
Supriya Sule on NCP Merger FAQ
What did Supriya Sule say about the NCP merger?
She said merger talks were underway when Ajit Pawar was alive but ended with his death, and she has received no proposal since.
When did Supriya Sule make the statement?
Her remarks were reported on 12 November 2026.
What did Sunil Tatkare say?
Tatkare said that if Ajit Pawar had been alive, the merger of the two NCP factions would have taken place.
Why did Rohit Pawar praise Sonia Gandhi?
He said she showed him compassion when he sought an impartial probe into the plane crash in which Ajit Pawar died, referring to her memoir “Belonging”.
How many MLAs do NCP and NCP (SP) have?
In the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election, the NCP won 41 seats and the NCP (SP) won 10.
When did the NCP split?
The NCP split in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde-Fadnavis government; the ECI recognised his faction as the NCP in February 2024.
What is the BJP’s stand on the NCP merger?
Reports on 10 November said the BJP ruled out talks.