Political maneuvering in Maharashtra has intensified as Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray prepares to meet Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Sharad Pawar at his Silver Oak residence in Mumbai. The planned visit comes amidst heightened speculation regarding a potential reconciliation between the two warring factions of the NCP. The flurry of political visits follows the recent discharge of veteran leader Sharad Pawar from a Mumbai hospital, with leaders publicly maintaining that the interactions are standard courtesy visits to check on his health.
Series of Meetings at Silver Oak Involving Parth Pawar
At the heart of the ongoing speculation are recent engagements by Parth Pawar, son of Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and a Rajya Sabha MP. Over the past two days, Parth Pawar visited his grandfather Sharad Pawar twice at the Silver Oak residence in Mumbai. Both sessions involved extended discussions lasting approximately two hours each. Following these interactions, Sharad Pawar also chaired a separate meeting with senior leaders of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) on Sunday evening. While participating figures have consistently described these visits as health inquiries following Sharad Pawar's medical discharge, political observers point to the frequency and length of the talks as significant.
Responses From Coalition Partners and Merger Denial
Prior to Uddhav Thackeray's planned visit, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut and other party representatives had already met Sharad Pawar to inquire about his well-being. Additionally, NCP leader Praful Patel is expected to meet Sharad Pawar in the coming days. These recurring engagements have fueled widespread political debate regarding the unification of the Ajit Pawar group and the Sharad Pawar faction.
However, leaders aligned with the Opposition have firmly dismissed reports of any merger. Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut emphasized that Sharad Pawar has pursued secular politics throughout his career, making any alliance with the BJP unacceptable to his principles. Concurrently, Congress leader Hussain Dalwai characterized the merger reports as propaganda driven by the BJP, claiming such narratives are intended to create divisions within the INDIA alliance.
Official Stance of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar)
Addressing the ongoing speculation, Anish Gavande, national spokesperson for NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), clarified that the party's strategic direction remains unchanged. Gavande noted that visitors are coming strictly due to Sharad Pawar's recent illness and health recovery. He reiterated that Sharad Pawar had explicitly instructed party leaders during a recent meeting that the organization belongs in the Opposition and will continue to fulfill its role from the Opposition benches.
Gavande highlighted that similar rumors regarding the party merging with Congress, aligning with the BJP, or reuniting with the Ajit Pawar faction have circulated continuously since 2023 without foundation. Regarding the possibility of leaders from the Ajit Pawar faction returning, Gavande clarified that while Sharad Pawar has maintained an open-door policy for individuals wishing to join, no active discussions or formal proposals are currently underway regarding the return of any MLAs, MPs, or leaders from the Ajit Pawar group.
