Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s visit to New Delhi on Wednesday, where she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has not advanced discussions on a possible merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), senior party sources said.
According to leaders present during the meetings, the issue of a merger between the NCP and the NCP (SP) was neither on the agenda nor discussed. “The issue was not on the agenda of today’s meetings, neither it was mentioned anywhere.
Ultimately, the opinion of top two leaders of the country will have to be considered before going ahead as merger would mean entry of a new party into NDA’s fold,” said a senior leader who accompanied Pawar during her visit. The trip marked her first visit to the national capital after the death of her husband and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. She was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister four days after his demise.
The developments come amid renewed speculation over a possible reunification of the two NCP factions. Leaders from the NCP (SP) have claimed that Ajit Pawar had initiated and finalised merger talks before his death. However, a senior NCP leader dismissed the claims, saying, “the information on those talks is not available with us and hence the issue of following it does not arise.”
Talks of a merger had intensified earlier this week following reports of a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sunetra Pawar and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil at the state legislative complex. According to NCP (SP) leaders, Patil had been leading negotiations and had worked out key details of a possible merger. The meeting, however, reportedly lasted only a few minutes.
In another sign that discussions may have stalled, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who was scheduled to hold a press conference in Delhi on Thursday regarding the merger, announced that he was cancelling the briefing. Party insiders said the move suggested that no breakthrough was imminent.
NCP state president Sunil Tatkare has maintained that the party has no plan to exit the ruling NDA alliance. “It is up to them (NCP SP) to decide whether they want to join the NDA,” Tatkare had said earlier, amid speculation following Ajit Pawar’s death.
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Meanwhile, the NCP is yet to finalise the date for its national council meeting, where a new national president is expected to be chosen.
Several party leaders and legislators have demanded that Sunetra Pawar be appointed to the post following Ajit Pawar’s demise.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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