In what could be a major blow to the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, at least 20 MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) are in touch with the Sharadchandra Pawar faction, a report said. The NCP (SP), which is with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), has, meanwhile, ruled out the possibility of a merger, Marathi media reports said.
The news of the Ajit Pawar faction MLAs reaching out to the Sharad Pawar camp comes at a time when rumours of an NCP reunification were strengthening in the state. NCP (Ajit) has a total of 41 MLAs in the house, making it the third-biggest Mahayuti constituent. The Sharad Pawar faction has 10.
It was NCP (SP) leader Shashikant Shinde who reportedly declared that a merger of the two factions was not on the table. “We have not received any such proposal yet, but if one comes, we will certainly consider it. If they want to work under Sharad Pawar’s leadership, we will definitely think about it,” TV9 Marathi quoted Shinde as saying on the matter of the MLAs wanting to make the switch.
It is reported that 22 to 23 NCP MLAs who are unwilling to continue with the BJP are interested in joining Sharad Pawar. Quoting sources, TV9 Marathi claimed that these legislators have already met Sharad Pawar.
“Our party will move forward in Maharashtra under Pawar Saheb’s leadership. We will take up different issues. As part of the MVA alliance, we will conduct state tours after August 15. We will tour jointly and try to build public sentiment. But the two NCP factions will not come together now,” Shashikant Shinde reportedly added.
