# Friction Grows in Sunetra Pawar Faction Over Ministry Allocation and Merger with Sharad Pawar Camp

> Internal disagreements have surfaced within Sunetra Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party over a possible reunion with Sharad Pawar's outfit and reclaiming the finance portfolio in Maharashtra.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Maharashtra · **Published:** 2026-11-03 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/maharashtra/maharashtra-sarakara-men-vitta-mntralaya-aura-sharad-pawar-guta-se-vilaya-para-sunetra-pawar-kheme-men-khinchatana-teja-55455 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Sunetra Pawar, Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party, Amit Shah, Maharashtra Politics, Ajit Pawar, Finance Ministry

Internal friction has intensified within the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sunetra Pawar as leaders grapple with two critical political questions. On one side, the outfit is assessing whether to pursue a merger with the faction headed by Sharad Pawar, while on the other, intense deliberations are underway to reclaim the key finance department within the Maharashtra state cabinet. Divergent viewpoints within the leadership have prevented a common consensus on either front.

## Divided Opinions Within the Core Leadership on Party Merger
During a high-level meeting convened in Delhi, senior members of the core team were asked to share their perspectives on bringing the two Nationalist Congress Party factions back onto a single platform. The discussions immediately exposed significant fault lines among senior functionaries. A section of leaders advocated strongly in favor of the reunification, arguing that coming together would prove strategically advantageous and fortify the party's broader political footing.

Conversely, several other leaders expressed vehement opposition to the merger concept, maintaining that they would not support reunification under any circumstances. Because of this sharp divergence in opinions, no consensus could be achieved regarding an immediate merger. As a middle ground, the leadership suggested that if an immediate coming together is undesirable at present, any definitive decision could be deferred and re-evaluated in the future depending on evolving political circumstances and subsequent developments.

## A History of Unfinished Unity Efforts
Discussions regarding the reconciliation of the two Nationalist Congress Party wings are not unprecedented. Similar talks had gathered momentum when Ajit Pawar led the outfit, with assertions at the time that unification plans had reached an advanced stage. However, following the passing of Ajit Pawar, the political dynamics shifted considerably. The latest sharp disagreements among core team members underscore the enduring sensitivity of the issue, leaving any future decision to rely entirely on how regional political equations unfold.

## Six Senior Leaders Meet Amit Shah Over Maharashtra Finance Portfolio
Alongside the internal debate on a potential merger, another major political move unfolded in Delhi as six senior leaders representing Sunetra Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The delegation comprised Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif, with party leader Sunetra Pawar notably absent from the gathering.

The central agenda of the dialogue centered on the allocation of the state finance ministry. The portfolio was previously held by Ajit Pawar during his tenure in the Maharashtra government. Following his death, the portfolio was retained by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The delegation of six senior politicians raised the demand with Amit Shah that the department should be returned to the Nationalist Congress Party in line with previous ministerial distributions, setting the stage for fresh negotiations within the ruling coalition.

## What this means for you
Decisions concerning the finance portfolio and coalition dynamics directly impact the pace of governance and budgetary priorities in Maharashtra.

- **In Maharashtra:** Which party controls the finance department determines how state funds and regional development schemes are prioritized. A clear resolution on cabinet portfolios will remove policy bottlenecks and administrative delays across state departments.
- **Across India:** As the country's economic hub, governance stability in Maharashtra directly influences wider political equations and investment sentiment. Seamless cooperation between state leaders and the central government ensures timely execution of infrastructure initiatives.
- **For Party Workers:** The outcome of potential merger talks or continued division will establish regional loyalties and leadership structures. Grassroots workers can better plan their political engagements once organizational clarity is achieved.
- **For Citizens:** Swift settlement of cabinet portfolio disputes enables government offices to clear pending welfare measures and public utility projects. A settled administration ensures predictable delivery of routine citizen services and developmental funds.

## Why this happened
This friction arose following the political void left by Ajit Pawar's passing, the reallocation of key ministries, and the debate over the long-term survival strategy of the faction.

- **Reallocation of the Finance Portfolio:** The finance department was previously managed by Ajit Pawar until his demise, after which the Bharatiya Janata Party retained it. Senior party functionaries are now lobbying to restore the portfolio to their group.
- **Divergent Views on Merger:** One faction inside the core leadership sees electoral strength in reuniting with Sharad Pawar, while opposing leaders resist surrendering their distinct position. This clash prevented any immediate resolution during internal discussions.
- **Precedent of Past Unification Talks:** Integration negotiations had advanced significantly during Ajit Pawar's tenure, keeping the concept alive in political circles. However, divergent views forced the leadership to defer any immediate decision to a later date.
- **Recourse to Central Leadership:** The delegation of six senior politicians meeting the Union Home Minister indicates that resolving ministerial shares within the coalition requires central mediation.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why did six senior leaders from Sunetra Pawar's party meet Amit Shah?
The leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to demand the return of the finance portfolio in the Maharashtra government to their party.

### 2. Which leaders were part of the delegation that met Amit Shah?
The delegation included Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif.

### 3. Who previously held the Maharashtra finance portfolio?
The finance ministry was previously held by Ajit Pawar, and it was retained by the Bharatiya Janata Party following his demise.

### 4. What was decided regarding the merger with Sharad Pawar's faction?
No consensus could be reached due to opposing views among core leaders, leaving the matter deferred for future review based on political developments.

### 5. Were merger discussions between the two factions held in the past?
Yes, unification talks had also taken place during Ajit Pawar's leadership, with claims that negotiations had reached an advanced stage back then.

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