Ajit Pawar Held 14 Meetings With Sharad Pawar Faction To Discuss Possible NCP Merger: Sources

Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 12:47 IST

Those involved in the discussions said a strategic decision was taken to announce the merger a day after the Zilla Parishad election results.

Sources said that after the final meeting with key leaders, Ajit Pawar had met NCP founder Sharad Pawar to brief him on the consensus that had emerged. (Image: PTI File)

Efforts to reunite the two factions of the ist Congress Party (NCP) were already at an advanced stage before the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, sources have told CNN-News18. According to sources familiar with the process, Ajit Pawar had held 14 meetings over several weeks with senior party leaders, including Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, and Amol Kolhe, to explore the possibility of bringing the divided NCP back together. Senior BJP leaders were also kept informed of these developments and later shared details of the meetings, sources said.

Those involved in the discussions said a strategic decision was taken to announce the merger a day after the Zilla Parishad election results. In anticipation of this move, candidates were advised to contest the elections on the ‘clock’ symbol instead of the ‘trumpet’, reflecting a conscious shift aligned with the reunification plan.

Kiran Gujar, who has been associated with Ajit Pawar since before his entry into politics in the mid-1980s, told PTI that Pawar had confided in him about this only five days before Wednesday’s fatal plane crash. “He was hundred per cent keen on merging both the factions. He had told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger was imminent in the next few days," Gujar said as quoted by PTI.

Sources said that after the final meeting with key leaders, Ajit Pawar had met NCP founder Sharad Pawar to brief him on the consensus that had emerged. During this interaction, Sharad Pawar reportedly gave his approval to reunite both factions, effectively clearing the path for a formal merger.

Following this approval, candidates had officially chose to contest on the clock symbol. Sources added that Sharad Pawar assumed responsibility for the reunification process in his role as the head of the family, underscoring his continuing authority within the party.

Sources also confirmed that senior BJP leaders were informed in detail about the proposed merger and the broader political roadmap.

The decision to reunite the NCP, sources said, was framed around advancing the party while staying aligned with the ideals of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and Dr BR Ambedkar, principles Ajit Pawar had consistently cited.

Legal advice was taken before proceeding, sources added. Several leaders had earlier expressed to both Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar that unity was essential for Maharashtra’s interests and the party’s future.

Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday. With his death, it now remains to be seen how things will move with respect to the reported proposed merger of the two NCP factions.

News politics Ajit Pawar Held 14 Meetings With Sharad Pawar Faction To Discuss Possible NCP Merger: Sources

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