Supriya Sule denied rumors that Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (SP) will merge or form an alliance with the NDA [1].
The denial comes amid reports of internal friction within the party. While some leaders seek a partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party's core leadership remains opposed to joining the ruling coalition in Maharashtra [2].
Speculation regarding a potential shift intensified following a series of meetings between NCP leaders and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis [2]. These discussions have fueled claims that several NCP (SP) members of parliament and members of the legislative assembly are advocating for an alliance with the BJP [2].
Sule said, "We will never join hands with the NDA" [1].
Despite the firm stance against the NDA, Sule addressed the possibility of internal reconciliation. She mentioned a desire for unity between the fractured elements of the party. "My late brother Ajit Pawar's last wish was a reunion between the rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party," Sule said [3].
However, the path to a reunion remains complicated by ideological divides. Reports indicate that Sharad Pawar continues to resist any alliance with the BJP [2]. This creates a visible split between the party's founder and those members who believe a strategic partnership with the BJP is necessary for political survival in Maharashtra [2].
The tension highlights the struggle for control and direction within the NCP (SP) as it navigates its relationship with both the state government and the national coalition.
“"We will never join hands with the NDA."”
The friction within the NCP (SP) reveals a strategic divide between the party's grassroots leadership and its founding patriarch. While the desire for a party reunion exists, the refusal to align with the BJP creates a ceiling for that unification, as the rival factions currently hold opposing views on the NDA's role in Maharashtra's governance.
