Sharad Pawar hints at NCP reunion; MVA’s future hangs in balance

Pune: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar set the political circles buzzing Thursday when he hinted at the possibility of the two NCP factions reuniting in the near future. After Pawar's statement, both sides of NCP sent out positive signals about the possibility of a reunion.During an informal discussion with the media in the city, Pawar said a section of his party was in favour of joining hands with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. As far as the decision on the reunion, the veteran politician said he was not "actively involved in taking such decisions".Pawar said his daughter Supriya Sule, who is also the NCP (SP)'s working president, would have to sit and discuss the matter with her cousin, Ajit Pawar. "If the reunion happens, it should not surprise others," Sharad Pawar said.Ever since NCP split on July 2, 2023, both factions were vocal against each other. During last year's Lok Sabha and assembly elections, both factions of NCP not only fielded candidates against each other but also got engaged in the fiercest poll campaigns and also issued personal remarks against senior members from either side.A significant change was, however, noticed after the assembly polls when the Ajit Pawar-led NCP made substantial gains in Maharashtra by winning 41 of the 59 seats it contested. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who avoided sharing stage with Sharad Pawar at events before the assembly polls, was seen visiting his uncle's Delhi residence to wish him on his birthday. Recently, in a span of less than one month, both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar attended three-four events together. One of the events was the engagement ceremony of Ajit Pawar's younger son Jay in Pune.With Sharad Pawar's hint of a possible reunion of the two NCP factions, the future of the MVA — the alliance of NCP (SP), Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) — now hangs in balance. The NCP (SP) chief has remained the guiding force for MVA in the state. He was also the key campaigner for the opposition alliance in both the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Now, the MVA's future appears uncertain amidst the possibility of Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) going with Ajit Pawar's NCP and also Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's signal to MNS chief and cousin Raj Thackeray for a reunion.A senior Congress member told TOI, "In the last couple of months, we have observed that NCP (SP) has not shown much aggression against the state govt. There are also talks about Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena joining hands with Raj Thackeray's MNS. In such a scenario, Congress will have to work out its own strategy for Maharashtra. Since there is not much time in hand for the party ahead of the local bodies elections, we are not showing much dependency on MVA for preparations." Pawar's latest statement also evoked positive reactions from both factions of NCP. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said: "I came to know about Pawar Saheb's statement through media reports. We have not yet discussed the issue within the party. But as he has hinted at a possible reunion, we will discuss it at our core committee meeting."Tatkare's party colleague and senior politician Chhagan Bhujbal said, "Pawar Saheb's approach is a ray of hope for a possible reunion of the (Pawar) family and the party. If it really happens, we will get guidance from his vast experience. The strength of NCP will surely multiply."Asked if he will take the initiative to bring both factions together, Bhujbal said, "If need arises, I am ready to take the initiative. But since Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule come from the same family, I do not think they will need a mediator."NCP (SP) MLA Uttamrao Jankar said he and three other party legislators have been urging the senior members to reunite with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. "Discussions (on reuniting with NCP) are going on for the last two to three months. Along with three other NCP (SP) MLAs from Solapur, I already conveyed the message to Pawar Saheb through our state chief Jayant Patil that we should go with Ajit Pawar and be part of the govt in the state. If NCP gets reunited, it will send a positive signal across the state before the civic body elections," he said.Senior NCP (SP) member and former state home minister Anil Deshmukh said: "Some members might have expressed their wish to go with Ajit Pawar's NCP. But at present, our party is more focused on strengthening the base and strategising for local bodies polls."Pune: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar set the political circles buzzing Thursday when he hinted at the possibility of the two NCP factions reuniting in the near future. After Pawar's statement, both sides of NCP sent out positive signals about the possibility of a reunion.During an informal discussion with the media in the city, Pawar said a section of his party was in favour of joining hands with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. As far as the decision on the reunion, the veteran politician said he was not "actively involved in taking such decisions".Pawar said his daughter Supriya Sule, who is also the NCP (SP)'s working president, would have to sit and discuss the matter with her cousin, Ajit Pawar. "If the reunion happens, it should not surprise others," Sharad Pawar said.Ever since NCP split on July 2, 2023, both factions were vocal against each other. During last year's Lok Sabha and assembly elections, both factions of NCP not only fielded candidates against each other but also got engaged in the fiercest poll campaigns and also issued personal remarks against senior members from either side.A significant change was, however, noticed after the assembly polls when the Ajit Pawar-led NCP made substantial gains in Maharashtra by winning 41 of the 59 seats it contested. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who avoided sharing stage with Sharad Pawar at events before the assembly polls, was seen visiting his uncle's Delhi residence to wish him on his birthday. Recently, in a span of less than one month, both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar attended three-four events together. One of the events was the engagement ceremony of Ajit Pawar's younger son Jay in Pune.With Sharad Pawar's hint of a possible reunion of the two NCP factions, the future of the MVA — the alliance of NCP (SP), Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) — now hangs in balance. The NCP (SP) chief has remained the guiding force for MVA in the state. He was also the key campaigner for the opposition alliance in both the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Now, the MVA's future appears uncertain amidst the possibility of Sharad Pawar's NCP(SP) going with Ajit Pawar's NCP and also Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's signal to MNS chief and cousin Raj Thackeray for a reunion.A senior Congress member told TOI, "In the last couple of months, we have observed that NCP (SP) has not shown much aggression against the state govt. There are also talks about Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena joining hands with Raj Thackeray's MNS. In such a scenario, Congress will have to work out its own strategy for Maharashtra. Since there is not much time in hand for the party ahead of the local bodies elections, we are not showing much dependency on MVA for preparations." Pawar's latest statement also evoked positive reactions from both factions of NCP. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare said: "I came to know about Pawar Saheb's statement through media reports. We have not yet discussed the issue within the party. But as he has hinted at a possible reunion, we will discuss it at our core committee meeting."Tatkare's party colleague and senior politician Chhagan Bhujbal said, "Pawar Saheb's approach is a ray of hope for a possible reunion of the (Pawar) family and the party. If it really happens, we will get guidance from his vast experience. The strength of NCP will surely multiply."Asked if he will take the initiative to bring both factions together, Bhujbal said, "If need arises, I am ready to take the initiative. But since Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule come from the same family, I do not think they will need a mediator."NCP (SP) MLA Uttamrao Jankar said he and three other party legislators have been urging the senior members to reunite with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. "Discussions (on reuniting with NCP) are going on for the last two to three months. Along with three other NCP (SP) MLAs from Solapur, I already conveyed the message to Pawar Saheb through our state chief Jayant Patil that we should go with Ajit Pawar and be part of the govt in the state. If NCP gets reunited, it will send a positive signal across the state before the civic body elections," he said.Senior NCP (SP) member and former state home minister Anil Deshmukh said: "Some members might have expressed their wish to go with Ajit Pawar's NCP. But at present, our party is more focused on strengthening the base and strategising for local bodies polls."