Top Ajit Pawar Camp Leader Dismisses Possibility of Reunion Between NCP Factions

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Friday ruled out a reunion with the Sharad Pawar faction and said it would continue to maintain its stand on allying itself with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, and MahaYuti in Maharashtra.

"The party is an ally of the NDA at the Centre and in MahaYuti in the state. The NCP has recorded a thumping win in Maharashtra under the leadership of Ajit Pawar. Our agenda and stand taken in July 2023 is quite clear. We will continue with NDA and MahaYuti. There is no rethinking in our stand," Maharashtra unit NCP chief Sunil Tatkare told reporters.

He did respond to a query on whether there could be a reunion if NCP-SP changes its current political stance-from not supporting the BJP-led MahaYuti. "Politics is full of ifs and buts and I cannot answer this question, though," Tatkare said.

He added: "Family and politics are two different things".

Tatkare's statement came a day after Ajit Pawar's mother, Ashatai Pawar, visited the temple town of Pandharpur and expressed her wish for the reunion of the Pawars.

"I wish that the differences within the Pawar family end at the earliest. I hope Pandurang answers my prayers," she said during her interaction with the media.

Ashatai Pawar had stated her desire just days after Ajit Pawar, along with his family and senior party leaders, visited his estranged uncle Sharad Pawar's residence on December 12 and wished him on his birthday.

NCP working president Praful Patel said Thursday that "Sharad Pawar is our deity. We have a high degree of respect for him. If the Pawar family comes together, it will make us extremely happy. I consider myself a member of the Pawar family".

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has split into two after Ajit Pawar walked away forming a faction of his own while his uncle Sharad Pawar -- a former Union Minister -- continues to lead the NCP-SP group.