EVEN as NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said any decision regarding joining hands with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP will be taken by the next generation leaders, primarily his daughter Baramati MP Supriya Sule, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said if any such proposal comes to them, the party’s core group will discuss it. “I have heard the statement of Sharad Pawar regarding the two NCP factions coming together. He is our senior and we respect his views. If we get any such proposal from his party, we will discuss it in our core group,” Tatkare told The Indian Express. In the same breath, Tatkare also hinted that there was less possibility of the two NCPs coming together. “We had taken a collective decision of going with the Mahayuti. And will stick to our decision. We will remain with the Mahayuti,” he said. Earlier in the morning, Sharad Pawar said, “Leaders of both NCP factions follow one ideology. In our party, some leaders believe if development works in their constituencies are to be implemented, then they should join hands with Ajit Pawar’s party. However, there are some who believe we should not join hands. Our leaders are divided in two parties, but we continue to follow the same ideology.” Speaking to reporters in Pune, NCP (SP)’s Rohit Pawar said, “As a family, I feel we should unite. A united family always presents a strong picture. When it comes to two parties coming together, I think the decision should taken by top leaders of both the parties.” “I have no clue what Pawar saheb told reporters regarding the two factions coming together. Only after I discuss it with Pawar saheb and Sule, there will be more clarity on it.” In an interview to The Indian Express earlier this week, Sharad Pawar had first spoken about the possibility of the two factions uniting. “As far as we are concerned, there are two views inside the party. One is that we reunite (with the NCP led by Ajit Pawar). The second section feels ‘do not go directly or indirectly with the BJP’. Let’s join the INDIA group and reorganise the alliance.” Sharad Pawar said any decision whether they should join hands with Ajit Pawar’s party would be taken by the new generation in the party. “Our MP Supriya Sule will take the decision in this regard. I’m now out of the decision-making process,” he said. The undivided NCP split in June 2023 when Ajit Pawar walked away with 40 MLAs. However, of late there have been speculations about the two parties coming together as both the Pawars have met three-four times in the last two months. NCP youth president Suraj Chavan said, “There is some truth in what Pawar saheb said today. There are many leaders in Sharad Pawar’s party who want to join hands with the NCP. Several leaders are in touch with our party president Ajit Pawar and they would soon be joining us. If they are ready to accept his leadership and they want to work under his leadership, we will welcome them in our party.” Chavan said if the decision of Ajit Pawar of going with the Mahayuti is acceptable to Sule and other leaders, then the NCP would have no problem.
