Amid ongoing political speculation in Maharashtra, the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has firmly rejected claims made by the Sharad Pawar camp regarding a possible merger of the two NCP factions. Ajit Pawar group MLA Anil Patil issued a strong statement, saying that no formal proposal or discussion about a merger was ever communicated to them. According to him, if any such talks took place, they were known only to Ajit Pawar personally. While acknowledging that some informal discussions and videos of leaders meeting had surfaced, Anil Patil clarified that these interactions were related to local body elections and not a confirmed merger plan. He stressed that questions regarding alignment with the NDA or broader political strategy were never clearly discussed within the Ajit Pawar group, leaving many issues unanswered. Anil Patil further asserted that the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is an independent entity and is under no pressure from any side. He strongly advocated that Sunetra Pawar should now take charge of the party leadership. With local body elections approaching and candidates already in the fray, Patil said party workers are demoralized after Ajit Pawar’s demise and need clear direction. He emphasized that Sunetra Pawar is best positioned to guide the party forward, stabilize the cadre, and ensure continuity during this critical phase.


