NCP Merger 2026 is once again the hottest topic in Maharashtra politics. In the first week of November 2026, a hospital visit by NCP working president Praful Patel to Sharad Pawar, back-to-back visits by Parth Pawar to Pawar’s Silver Oak residence, and a claim by state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare that the two parties were to reunite on 12 February 2026 have revived talk that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) may come together again.
Both sides officially deny that any merger proposal is on the table. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the BJP has neither received a proposal nor held any talks. Yet the meetings, the statements and the political arithmetic all point to a story that is far from over. This Election Guru explainer covers the full NCP merger story: how the party split, what changed after Ajit Pawar’s death, who said what in November 2026, the numbers in the Assembly and Lok Sabha, the legal route for a merger, and what it would mean for Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi.
NCP Merger 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Parties involved | Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) |
| NCP leader | Sunetra Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra |
| NCP (SP) leader | Sharad Pawar, founder of the NCP |
| NCP alliance | Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP) – in government |
| NCP (SP) alliance | Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP)) – in opposition |
| Trigger for latest buzz | Praful Patel’s hospital visit to Sharad Pawar; Sunil Tatkare’s “12 February” claim |
| Official position | Both factions say there is no merger proposal right now |
How the NCP Was Born and How It Split
1999: Sharad Pawar Founds the NCP
Sharad Pawar founded the Nationalist Congress Party on 10 June 1999 with P. A. Sangma and Tariq Anwar after the three were expelled from the Congress for questioning Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin. Within months, however, the NCP became the Congress’s partner in Maharashtra and later joined the UPA governments at the Centre. For more than two decades the NCP was a pillar of Maharashtra politics, with a deep base in cooperative sugar factories, district banks and rural western Maharashtra.
2019: The Early-Morning Oath
The first public sign of a rift came in November 2019, when Ajit Pawar briefly joined hands with Devendra Fadnavis in an early-morning swearing-in. That government collapsed within days, Ajit Pawar returned to his uncle, and the NCP went on to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government with the Shiv Sena and the Congress under Uddhav Thackeray.
2023: The Split
On 2 July 2023, Ajit Pawar walked into the Shinde-Fadnavis government with a majority of NCP MLAs and took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. He then claimed the party name and the “clock” symbol. On 7 February 2024 the Election Commission of India recognised Ajit Pawar’s group as the real NCP. Sharad Pawar’s faction became the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), later contesting on the “man blowing turha” symbol.
NCP vs NCP (SP): The Numbers
The 2024 elections gave very different verdicts. In the Lok Sabha polls, Sharad Pawar’s party performed far better, including Supriya Sule’s win over Sunetra Pawar in Baramati. Months later, in the Assembly election, Ajit Pawar’s NCP was the clear winner as the Mahayuti swept Maharashtra.
| Election | NCP (Ajit / Sunetra Pawar) | NCP (SP) (Sharad Pawar) |
|---|---|---|
| Lok Sabha 2024 (Maharashtra) | 1 seat (Raigad) | 8 seats |
| Assembly 2024 (288 seats) | 41 seats | 10 seats |
| Alliance | Mahayuti (ruling) | Maha Vikas Aghadi (opposition) |
| Current leader | Sunetra Pawar | Sharad Pawar |
Together, the two NCPs would have 51 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly – making a reunited party a far stronger partner for whichever alliance it chooses.
Ajit Pawar’s Death Changed Everything
On 28 January 2026, Ajit Pawar was killed when a Learjet 45 crashed while making a second approach to Baramati airport. He was travelling to address public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections; four others also died. The state declared three days of mourning, and he was cremated with state honours in Baramati the next day. On 31 January 2026, his widow and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister and took charge of the NCP.
Ajit Pawar’s death removed the biggest personal barrier between the two factions. It also left the ruling NCP without its most experienced leader, raising questions about who would hold the party together – questions that have fed the merger debate ever since.
Sunil Tatkare’s “12 February” Claim
The most important statement in the merger story came from Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare. He said the two factions would have reunited on 12 February 2026 had Ajit Pawar been alive. “Ajit dada had told me about the merger discussions and how they would be finalised,” Tatkare said. Outlook described this as the clearest acknowledgment from the ruling NCP that merger discussions had actually taken place.
The November 2026 Meetings
Praful Patel Meets Sharad Pawar in Hospital
Sharad Pawar was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital with a chest and respiratory infection. NCP national working president Praful Patel visited him there. A video that went viral showed Pawar suggesting that they sit together “after November 10”. Patel said the visit was only to enquire about Pawar’s health and that a hospital was “not an appropriate place” for political discussion. He said he would meet Pawar at his residence after 10 November.
NCP Delegation Meets Amit Shah
Around the same time, a senior NCP delegation – Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Dilip Walse Patil and Dhananjay Munde – met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Notably, Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar were not part of the delegation. The NCP called it a pre-planned meeting on party matters after Ajit Pawar’s death.
Parth Pawar at Silver Oak
Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar visited Sharad Pawar at Silver Oak on two consecutive days. The NCP described these as family visits; reports said Parth attended a family lunch and that the Pawar family skipped Diwali celebrations because of the drought and Ajit Pawar’s death.
NCP (SP) Leaders Meet Pawar
After Parth’s second visit, Sharad Pawar met senior NCP (SP) leaders including Jayant Patil for nearly three hours. Leaders such as Amol Kolhe and Jitendra Awhad said the meeting was about Pawar’s health and that no merger was discussed.
MLAs Seek Appointment
On 10 November, India TV reported that several MLAs of the ruling NCP had sought an appointment to meet Sharad Pawar to enquire about his health. Pawar was discharged and is resting at Silver Oak.
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Who Said What on the NCP Merger
| Leader | Party | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Sunil Tatkare | NCP | Merger was to happen on 12 February had Ajit Pawar been alive |
| Praful Patel | NCP | Hospital visit was only about health; will meet Pawar after 10 November |
| Umesh Patil | NCP spokesperson | “There is no talk of merger within the NCP. It is not even discussed.” |
| Devendra Fadnavis | BJP, Chief Minister | BJP has neither received a proposal nor held talks |
| Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil | NCP (SP) | Party has moved on from the merger issue |
| Rohit Pawar | NCP (SP) | The question has not been discussed in his party |
| Sanjay Shirsat | Shiv Sena | Claimed during Diwali that the merger was in its “final stages” |
Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar: The Key Question
Any merger would raise one big question: who leads the reunited party? Sunetra Pawar is the NCP’s national president and Deputy Chief Minister. Sharad Pawar remains the founder and moral head of the larger Pawar family. An India TV headline on 6 November said Sunetra and Parth Pawar oppose the move as the BJP eyes Sharad Pawar’s entry into the NDA, though the details of their position have not been made public. Indian Express reports have also mentioned concerns within the NCP about the party’s functioning under Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar’s growing influence.
How Would an NCP Merger Work Legally?
Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (the anti-defection law), a merger of political parties is protected only if at least two-thirds of the members of the legislature party agree to it. In practice, a reunion would most likely mean NCP (SP) legislators joining the recognised NCP – which holds the name and clock symbol – or both parties agreeing on a formal merger before the Election Commission. Any such step would also require decisions on the party’s alliance – whether the reunited NCP stays in Mahayuti or not.
What an NCP Merger Would Mean
For Mahayuti
A reunited NCP inside Mahayuti would strengthen the alliance in western Maharashtra and give it Sharad Pawar’s network in cooperatives and rural bodies ahead of local elections. But it could also upset the balance with the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena over seat sharing and posts.
For the Maha Vikas Aghadi
For the MVA, losing the NCP (SP) would be a major setback, leaving the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) as the main opposition parties. It would also weaken the opposition’s numbers in the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha elections.
For the Pawar Family
A merger would end the most painful split in Maharashtra’s best-known political family – one that saw Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar face each other in Baramati in 2024. It would also decide the next generation of leadership, including the roles of Supriya Sule, Parth Pawar and Rohit Pawar.
Merger Scenarios
| Scenario | What It Means | Likelihood (as of Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Full merger inside Mahayuti | NCP (SP) joins NCP; reunited party stays with BJP | Under discussion as per reports; officially denied |
| Merger outside Mahayuti | Reunited NCP leaves the ruling alliance | Unlikely – NCP is in government |
| Status quo | Two NCPs continue in rival alliances | Current official position of both sides |
| Partial shift | Some NCP (SP) legislators move individually | Possible but would face anti-defection limits |
What to Watch Next
- Praful Patel’s meeting with Sharad Pawar after 10 November and whether it is “political”.
- Ruling NCP MLAs’ visit to Silver Oak and its timing.
- BJP’s stance: Fadnavis has said any merger would be discussed with the BJP if it comes up.
- Sunetra and Parth Pawar’s public statements on leadership of a reunited party.
- Local body elections in Maharashtra, where both NCPs compete for the same rural base.
Also Read: Maharashtra Drought Aid 2026: ₹5,000 for 1.5 Crore Farmers
Sharad Pawar: The Man at the Centre of the NCP Story
Sharad Pawar, now in his mid-eighties, is one of India’s most experienced politicians. He first became Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1978 at the age of 38 – then the youngest in the state’s history – and went on to hold the post four times. At the Centre he served as Defence Minister in the P. V. Narasimha Rao government and as Union Agriculture Minister for ten years under the UPA from 2004 to 2014. His influence runs through Maharashtra’s sugar cooperatives, district banks, education societies and sports bodies, which is why any decision he takes on the NCP’s future carries weight far beyond the two parties.
| Sharad Pawar Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| First became Chief Minister of Maharashtra | 1978 |
| Founded the NCP | 1999 |
| Union Agriculture Minister | 2004 – 2014 |
| Party split by Ajit Pawar | 2023 |
| Leads NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) | 2024 – present |
The Pawar Family and the Two Parties
| Family Member | Relation | Party / Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sharad Pawar | Patriarch | Founder, NCP (SP) |
| Supriya Sule | Sharad Pawar’s daughter | NCP (SP) MP from Baramati |
| Ajit Pawar (1959 – 2026) | Sharad Pawar’s nephew | Led NCP; Deputy CM; died January 2026 |
| Sunetra Pawar | Ajit Pawar’s wife | NCP president, Deputy CM |
| Parth Pawar | Ajit Pawar’s son | NCP |
| Rohit Pawar | Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew | NCP (SP) MLA |
| Yugendra Pawar | Ajit Pawar’s nephew | NCP (SP); lost Baramati Assembly 2024 |
The split turned family members into direct rivals. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Supriya Sule defeated her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar in Baramati by a margin of more than 1.5 lakh votes. Months later, Ajit Pawar retained the Baramati Assembly seat by 1,00,899 votes against his nephew Yugendra Pawar of the NCP (SP). These contests left deep bitterness – but Ajit Pawar’s death and Sharad Pawar’s illness have brought the family closer, at least in public.
Ajit Pawar: Maharashtra’s Longest-Serving Deputy Chief Minister
Ajit Pawar served as Deputy Chief Minister several times under different Chief Ministers and alliances – in the Congress-NCP governments, briefly with Devendra Fadnavis in November 2019, in the MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray, in the Shinde government after the 2023 split, and again in the Fadnavis government formed in December 2024. He was known for his grip on administration, finance and the cooperative sector in Pune and Baramati. His sudden death left a vacuum that neither Sunetra Pawar nor Parth Pawar has fully filled, according to reports of unease within the party.
Why a Merger Makes Political Sense for Some Leaders
- Numbers: 41 + 10 MLAs would make a reunited NCP the third-largest party in the Assembly after the BJP and Shiv Sena.
- Rural base: Both parties compete for the same Maratha and rural voters in western Maharashtra; a merger avoids vote splits in local bodies.
- Resources: Control of cooperatives, sugar factories and district banks would no longer be divided.
- Leadership: Sharad Pawar’s experience could steady a party that lost its main leader.
Why It Is Difficult
- Ideology and alliances: NCP (SP) has spent three years attacking the BJP; joining the NDA would be hard to explain to its voters and allies.
- Leadership claims: Sunetra Pawar heads the recognised NCP; Supriya Sule is the natural heir in NCP (SP).
- Workers’ resistance: Local leaders who fought each other in 2024 may resist sharing tickets and posts.
- Allies’ reaction: The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) would lose a partner; within Mahayuti, the Shiv Sena may fear a stronger NCP.
Anti-Defection Law Explained
The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution disqualifies legislators who voluntarily give up their party membership or defy the party whip. Its paragraph 4 protects a “merger” only when at least two-thirds of the members of the legislature party agree to it. This is why legislators rarely switch individually, and why any NCP reunion is likely to be done as a formal party-level decision rather than by individual MLAs crossing over.
NCP Merger 2026 FAQ
Is the NCP merger happening in 2026?
As of 10 November 2026, both the NCP and NCP (SP) say there is no merger proposal. But meetings between leaders and Sunil Tatkare’s claim about a planned 12 February merger have kept the speculation alive.
Who leads the NCP after Ajit Pawar’s death?
Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s widow, took charge of the NCP and was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 31 January 2026.
When did Ajit Pawar die?
Ajit Pawar died on 28 January 2026 when a Learjet 45 crashed while approaching Baramati airport.
When did the NCP split?
The NCP split on 2 July 2023 when Ajit Pawar joined the Shinde-Fadnavis government with most NCP MLAs. The ECI recognised his faction as the NCP on 7 February 2024.
What did Sunil Tatkare say about the NCP merger?
Tatkare said the two factions would have reunited on 12 February 2026 had Ajit Pawar been alive, and that Ajit Pawar had told him about the merger discussions.
How many MLAs do the two NCPs have?
In the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election, the NCP won 41 seats and the NCP (SP) won 10 seats.
What did Devendra Fadnavis say about the NCP merger?
Fadnavis said the BJP had neither received a proposal nor held any talks, and that if a merger is considered later, NCP leaders would discuss it with the BJP.