NCP SP leader Sharad Pawar dismissed talks of a merger with the NCP on July 28, 2026, calling the idea irrelevant amid internal differences and shifting political dynamics.
Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar stated that the proposed merger “has no relevance.” A senior NCP SP leader added that the time for such talks had passed following the death of Ajit Pawar earlier in the year.
Recent meetings, including one between Parth Pawar and Sharad Pawar in Delhi and Sunil Tatkare’s visit with Union Minister Amit Shah on July 27, were described as unrelated to merger discussions. Party sources noted that Sunetra Pawar remains opposed to the idea.
Divisions persist inside the NCP. One faction sees a merger as a way to strengthen the party for the 2029 elections, while another worries about losing control and questions the leadership structure.