Fresh signs of divergence within the Opposition emerged ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament after NCP (SP) working president and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule indicated that her party could back the Centre's proposed delimitation legislation if it provided for a 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states.
Her remarks come amid growing speculation that a section of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)'s MPs and MLAs is advocating closer ties with the BJP-led NDA.
Political discussions around the party's future course have intensified following a series of meetings involving NCP (SP) leaders and senior BJP leaders as well as government functionaries over the past few days.
With Parliament scheduled to convene on July 20, the Narendra Modi government has stepped up efforts to secure the required two-thirds majority to reintroduce a constitutional amendment Bill seeking to extend women's reservation to 2029, alongside a delimitation Bill proposing to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to as many as 850 members. The legislation had failed to pass in the Lok Sabha during the special session held in April, when the NCP (SP), along with other INDIA bloc constituents, voted against it.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Wednesday, Sule said, “If the Union government amends the delimitation Bill by bringing a 50% increase in seats, then we will support it. This is not something new that I am saying. We have always maintained that we will support the Bill if these amendments are brought. There is no change in our stand.”
Later in the day, however, she adopted a more cautious position while addressing a press conference.
“We haven’t received any Bill on delimitation as of now. Previously, when the Bill was brought, the Opposition raised the amendment of increasing seats by 50 per cent. Whenever the Bill is presented to us, we will discuss it with the INDIA bloc parties. We will make a collective decision. It is important that the delimitation formula is also presented to us and we are told how new demarcation will be done,” she said.
A few hours later, Sule further clarified her stance through a post on X.
“Recent reports appearing in sections of the media regarding the stand of the NCP(SP) on the issue of delimitation are inaccurate and speculative. I wish to clarify that neither I nor the party has had any official discussion with any media organisation on this subject,” she said.
“As with every issue of constitutional importance, our party’s position is determined only after detailed consultations within the party and with our allies – India alliance… Since no such Bill has yet been made available, any speculation regarding its contents or our position would be premature,” said Sule, Pawar’s daughter.
During the press conference, Sule also pointed out that the proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats by 50 per cent had earlier been jointly advocated by several Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP) and DMK, when the Bill was first introduced.
“All of us, including the TMC, SP and the DMK, had taken this position. It is not something that is being said for the first time,” she said.
Responding to speculation that some NCP (SP) legislators were considering joining the NDA or merging with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Sule denied that any such proposal had been discussed within the party.
“Nobody has asked about this, nor have any of our leaders expressed the desire to switch over. All stand united with Sharad Pawar and will follow every decision to be taken by Sharad Pawar,” she said.
She also dismissed reports suggesting growing proximity between the NCP (SP) and the BJP, including speculation surrounding Maharashtra unit president Jayant Patil's late-night meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.
“When I was in Lucknow for a Parliamentary committee meeting, I openly met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. If our party really wanted to ally with the BJP, we would not be meeting openly,” she said.
Patil's meeting with Fadnavis took place shortly after he met Sharad Pawar at the latter's Mumbai residence. On the same night, senior leaders from the BJP ally NCP, Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel, separately met the Chief Minister, further fuelling speculation over possible political realignments.
According to sources quoted by The Indian Express, the meetings coincided with an internal reassessment within the NCP (SP), with at least half of the party's 10 MLAs reportedly favouring a shift towards the NDA, arguing that remaining in the Opposition had made it increasingly difficult to secure development funds and administrative approvals for their constituencies.
Patil, however, rejected suggestions that the meeting with Fadnavis carried any political significance.
“I met the Chief Minister to discuss the issue of disqualifying the chairman of the Islampur Municipal Council. I do not know about the meeting between Tatkare, Patel and the CM,” he said.
He also denied reports of merger talks with the NCP.
“I have not met Tatkare and Patel regarding any merger plans. After the death of Ajit Pawar, no such discussion has taken place,” he said, adding he felt “sad” whenever the media discussed him leaving the party.
Speculation surrounding the NCP (SP)'s future intensified after six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs recently crossed over to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing easier access to government clearances and development funding. According to sources, that development has encouraged some within the NCP (SP) to reassess the party's political strategy.
Although the NCP (SP) is the smallest among Maharashtra's six principal political parties with 10 MLAs and eight Lok Sabha MPs, its numbers in Parliament have assumed added importance as the NDA seeks to secure the two-thirds majority required in both Houses to pass key constitutional amendments, including a fresh women's reservation Bill and the proposed delimitation legislation.
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