‘No question of joining hands with NDA’ Sharad Pawar as Sule meets Shah

A series of meetings between NCP (SP) leaders and BJP leaders this month has sparked speculation that the party is contemplating joining the National Democratic Alliance.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jul 29, 2026 12:31 AM IST

NCP president Sharad Pawar and daughter Supriya Sule had met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. Pawar later said he had urged the PM to hold talks with students to end their agitation. (File Photo)

NCP (SP) national president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday dismissed speculation about the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) joining hands, saying there was no question of any such possibility taking place. However, his daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule met Union Home Minister Amit Shah second time in a week, sparking buzz of a possible tie-up.

“There is no connection whatsoever for both NCPs to come together,” Pawar said in Baramati on Tuesday.

Pawar’s remark in Baramati came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held meetings with leaders of both NCP factions in Delhi on Monday. Shah met NCP (SP) MPs Supriya Sule and Bajrang Sonawane and Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare.

A series of meetings between NCP (SP) leaders and BJP leaders this month has sparked speculation that the party is contemplating joining the National Democratic Alliance.

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar too dismissed the possibility of the party joining hands with the NDA government. “We will not join the government. Almost all leaders in our party are against it,” Rohit Pawar said.

On farm loan waivers, Pawar said he had information the government would publish beneficiary lists in phases. “We will wait for about another 15 days. After that, considering the ground situation, we will clarify our stance,” he added.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held meetings with leaders of both NCP factions in Delhi on Monday. Shah met NCP (SP) MPs Supriya Sule and Bajrang Sonawane and Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare.

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While neither Sule nor Tatkare was available for comment, NCP (SP) MP Sonawane said they met Shah to invite him to the reception of Sule’s daughter, Revati, who recently got married. The reception will be held in Delhi on August 10, Sule’s office said.

The meeting was Sule’s second high‑profile engagement with the BJP in five days. On July 22, she and Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pawar later said in a social media post that the discussion focused on the NEET paper leak and farmers’ demands. After the Cockroach Janta Party agitation was called off, Pawar also claimed credit for advising PM Modi to hold talks with students.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Ankush Kakade said, “Our party chief has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of we joining hands with NDA. Even our other leaders have rejected the idea several times. Yet, I don’t under why people keep taking up the merger issue or keep speculating about it.”

Kakade said, “Our party MPs meet ministers in the government regarding the projects in their constituency. When they meet, it becomes a big issue. I think we are all wasting our time in indulging in unnecessary speculations.”

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Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, “We have no clue what is going on. You should ask NCP (S-P) And therefore can’t comment as of now.”

An NCP (SP) leader said, “The NDA wants our party’s support for two legislation which it intends to pass in this session of Parliament. The meeting could be in that connection.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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