Sharad Pawar

Ajit Pawar himself made no definitive statement about the possibility of reuniting with NCP (SP), only saying that such decisions are taken by the top leadership, and not by party workers or junior leaders.

The NCP split in July 2023 after the veteran leader's nephew Ajit Pawar joined the then Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government.

Pawar's remarks came as several opposition leaders have urged the Centre to convene a special Parliament session to discuss the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, India’s Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire announcement

There is "no storm in a teacup", as is being made out, Sule told reporters in Mumbai when asked about the buzz in political circles about the merger of the two NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar.

If a merger with Ajit Pawar’s party presents an opportunity for his faction to become part of the government at the state and central levels, Sharad Pawar is unlikely to miss it.

Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit were attending a seminar on the use of Artificial Intelligence in the sugar industry and agriculture sector in Pune.

A fresh controversy has hit Ajit Pawar’s NCP with a senior party leader, Rajendra Hagawane, booked in a high-profile dowry death case

Previously regarded as a staunch loyalist of Sharad Pawar, Bhujbal had, with Pawar's support, engineered the first rebellion in Shiv Sena in 1991 and joined the Congress.

If Sharad Pawar chooses to part ways with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress and merge his faction with the NCP, it would not come as a surprise.

It is necessary to keep information confidential for national interest… Instead of calling a special session, it would be better if we all sit together for an all-party meeting, says Pawar.

"The speculation about the potential merger is just a media discussion. No meeting or discussion has been held in the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) camp," Deshmukh said.

“We will give complete support to whatever steps Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues take,” said the former defence minister, adding that religion, caste, and language should not be brought into such matters.

Shah and Singh had taken part in an all party meeting on April 24 to discuss the Pahalgam attack. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were also present at the meeting from the government's side.

The veteran leader urged the Maharashtra government to adopt a sensitive approach and ensure arrangements in the interest of Maharashtra Public Service Commission aspirants.

Pawar further said that Beed, which has been in the news for the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, was once a peaceful district.

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule called Sanjay Shirsat's claim a flattering compliment as “they (the rivals) need Jayant Patil despite their big organisational strength”.

The video of PM Modi’s special gesture is doing rounds on social media, wherein he also receives a big applause from the audience

Recently, Sharad Pawar and Eknath Shinde shared a stage in New Delhi at the 98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, where Pawar presented the Mahadji Shinde Rashtriya Gaurav Puraskar to Shinde

Eknath Shinde was conferred with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtriya Gaurav Award by NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar at an event in New Delhi on Tuesday.