Apossible political realignment in Maharashtra appears to be gaining momentum, with backchannel negotiations intensifying over a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions before their entry into the NDA. According to Times Now sources, the BJP has conveyed its willingness to welcome the Sharad Pawar-led NCP into the NDA, but with one key condition: the merger of both NCP factions before joining the ruling alliance.
To facilitate the process, has reportedly entrusted senior leader and close confidant Jayant Patil with the responsibility of holding the negotiation talks.
As part of these efforts, Patil has met BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Sources said that the NCP (SP) leader has held discussions with senior leaders from the Ajit Pawar camp, including Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel.
Cabinet Berths, Key Portfolios On Talks
According to sources, the BJP has worked out a power-sharing formula to accommodate both factions in the alliance. Under the proposed arrangement, the BJP is willing to offer two Cabinet berths – one each to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP camp and Ajit Pawar’s faction. While Supriya Sule is being considered for the Cabinet berth, Praful Patel is likely to be accommodated from the Ajit Pawar camp.
In Maharashtra, Jayant Patil is expected to be given the Finance portfolio, a department that was previously handled by Ajit Pawar. Another Sharad Pawar loyalist, Jitendra Awhad, is also likely to be inducted into the state Cabinet, sources added.
For the BJP, the arrangement could significantly strengthen its numbers in Parliament, with the Sharad Pawar camp expected to extend the support of its eight Lok Sabha MPs to the NDA.
Resistance From Within Sunetra Pawar
However, the proposed merger has run into resistance from within the Ajit Pawar faction. Sources said the principal objection has come from Sunetra Pawar, who believes that a reunification would diminish her influence as well as that of her son, Parth Pawar, within the party.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently met Parth Pawar, sources said. The meeting is being viewed as an effort to reassure the younger Pawar leader and address concerns within the Ajit Pawar camp over the proposed political restructuring.
While none of the parties involved has officially confirmed the discussions, the series of meetings and the reported formula suggest that efforts are underway to engineer one of Maharashtra’s most significant political realignments since the NCP split in 2023.