Raut, Sule reject merger talk over NCP factions
In short
Sanjay Raut and Supriya Sule have denied reports that the NCP factions are set to merge. Raut said Sharad Pawar leads the real NCP, while Sule said merger talks ended after her brother Ajit Pawar died earlier this year.
The comments matter because they push back on speculation about a bigger political shift in Maharashtra and within the BJP-led NDA.
What the reporting says
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and NCP(SCP) MP Supriya Sule dismissed reports of a merger between NCP factions. Raut said the real NCP is led by Sharad Pawar, not Ajit Pawar’s side, while Sule said merger talks had stopped after her brother Ajit Pawar’s death earlier this year. Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare also rejected the speculation and said the group remains aligned with the BJP-led NDA.
Why it matters
Sanjay Raut and Supriya Sule denied merger reports involving NCP factions, while Maharashtra NCP chief Sunil Tatkare also rejected the speculation. Raut backed Sharad Pawar’s camp as the legitimate NCP, and Sule said talks ended after her brother Ajit Pawar’s death earlier this year. The statements address leadership claims and alliance positioning in Maharashtra politics.