Ajit Pawar (L) and Sharad Pawar.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: The political discussions about a possible merger of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the NCP (SP) of Sharad Pawar gained currency on Saturday with the nephew calling on his uncle at the family stronghold of Baramati in Pune district.
Besides, in Pune, Ajit Pawar reportedly also met his cousin and Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, who is the NCP (SP) working president.
The development comes a day after the the NCP-NCP (SP) alliance, which contested the municipal corporation elections to twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, fared badly.
The two parties were on different sides of political spectrum - Maha Yuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The meeting comes ahead of the February 5 elections to the 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis involving 2.09 crore voters.
Ajit Pawar, who is the Deputy Chief Minister, said that the meeting was coincidental.
“Today the inauguration of Krushik 2026. As a local representative, I attended the event. I was informed that Saheb had arrived there as well, and we decided to go together from that place. That is why I went to his residence and then accompanied him to the agricultural exhibition,” he said.
On NCP (SP) state unit chief Shashikant Shinde's statement that both the NCPs will fight the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections together, Pawar said he has not heard the statement.
“I will respond after gathering proper information. Generally, in local body elections, decisions about alliances are left to local office-bearers. At present, we are all working within the Mahayuti,” he added.
Ajit Pawar maintained that family matters should not be linked to politics. “That is our internal matter. As a family, we are one. We stand by each other in times of joy and sorrow,” he said.