NCP heading for a merger? Speculation grows as Pawars share stage for 4th time in two months

The increased public appearances by both leaders could also be a ploy to prevent any further exodus ahead of local body elections. (File/PTI)

Adding momentum to what many see as increasingly becoming a question of 'when' than 'if', the buzz over the two rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party gained momentum once again as rival NCP faction leaders Sharad Pawar and his nephew and Maharashtra's Deputy CM Ajit Pawar shared stage once again in Pune on Sunday.

The duo was seen attending a seminar on the use of Artificial Intelligence in the sugar industry and agriculture sector at the Pune-based Vasantdada Sugar Institute. This was the fourth time in a span of two months when the two leaders were seen sharing the stage amid speculations of a reunion between the two rival NCP factions ahead of the local body elections scheduled to be held this year.

The Indian Express reported citing highly placed sources that besides sharing the stage, the two leaders also held talks separately. Senior NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil was also present at the meeting.

While both sides maintained there was nothing political about the meeting, the increasing overtures from both sides by way of making public appearances together is hard to ignore given a strong view in both factions to realign forces, especially after the Maharashtra Assembly elections last year.

The two leaders sharing stage comes just ahead of the NCP (undivided) foundation day on June 10. Sharad Pawar had formed the NCP in 1999 after parting ways with the Congress. The two leaders had shared space twice in Mumbai in May and once in Satara in April this year.

Sharad Pawar faced a mutiny led by his nephew Ajit in July 2023, leading to a split in the party and Pawar Sr losing the party name and symbol to the rival faction.

While neither Sharad Pawar nor Ajit have given any clear hint of a reunion, senior leaders on both sides of the divide believe that a merger was "inevitable" sooner rather than later to keep the electoral base intact. "Any division further does not augur well for either factions," IE quoted a senior leader as saying.

The civic polls due to be held this year could act as a trigger for increased clamour by both sides for the rival factions to reunite. The BJP holds a clear edge in the 2,736 seats across 27 municipal corporations, winning 1099 seats with a vote share of 31.3 percent in the polls held from 2015 to 2018.

The Shiv Sena follows second with 489 seats (18.49% vote share), Congress at 439 seats (15.53% vote share) and the undivided NCP at 294 seats (11.06% vote share).

While there are opposing views in both factions of the NCP on a possible reunion, there is a general understanding that splits in the Shiv Sena and the NCP have allowed the BJP to consolidate its gains in the state Assembly and there was no reason that with appropriate planning, it could do the same in local bodies as well.

So, while senior leaders of both factions maintain in public that there is no proposal under consideration for a reunion, some senior leaders admit that "anything is possible".

The confusion, created by both sides blowing hot and cold, could also be a smart ploy by Pawar Sr to prevent any further exodus and provide a boost to his party.