Amid uncertainty in Maharashtra’s opposition, the Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party are discussing a possible merger, according to sources. If completed, the step could lead to a significant political shift in the state.
Sources indicate talks focus on the Maharashtra units of both parties, with NCP (SP) leaders seeking internal agreement before proceeding further.
Once state-level consensus is reached, final approval would come from the national leadership of both parties in Delhi.
Similar merger talks had taken place before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections but were paused during the campaign period.
The discussions occur as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance faces internal strains and doubts about its unity. The alliance of Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) has experienced recent setbacks, including the defection of six MPs from Uddhav Sena to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
At a recent MVA meeting in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray questioned the alliance’s cohesion.
The current talks come 27 years after Sharad Pawar left Congress in 1999 to establish the Nationalist Congress Party. In 2023, his nephew Ajit Pawar led a faction of MLAs to join the BJP-Shiv Sena government, resulting in both groups claiming the party’s legacy. In May this year, Sharad Pawar’s faction ruled out any merger with Ajit Pawar’s group.
