Sharad Pawar’s Hospital Meeting With Praful Patel Revives NCP Merger Buzz, NDA Move Under Spotlight

Sharad Pawar’s Hospital Meetings Trigger Fresh Buzz Over NCP Merger And Possible NDA Entry

Even from his hospital bed in Mumbai, veteran politician Sharad Pawar has kept Maharashtra’s political circles guessing about his next move. The 85-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief, who was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital with a chest infection, has sparked fresh speculation about a possible reunion with the rival NCP faction and a potential alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The political buzz intensified after Pawar met Praful Patel, a prominent leader of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. The faction had split from the original party in 2023 and subsequently secured control over the NCP name and election symbol. Their meeting has revived questions about whether the two groups could put aside their differences and come together again.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also spoken to Pawar when he was initially admitted to a hospital in Pune. Reports said Modi advised him to focus on his recovery and leave responsibilities to Supriya Sule and other leaders. The conversation has added to speculation about a possible shift in Pawar’s political positioning, although there has been no official confirmation of any move towards the NDA.

Pawar’s History Of Political Surprises

Sharad Pawar’s political career, spanning nearly six decades, has been defined by his ability to negotiate alliances across ideological and party boundaries. His decisions have repeatedly influenced government formation in Maharashtra, making his next political move difficult to predict.

The 2019 Assembly elections provided one of the most prominent examples. After differences emerged between the BJP and Shiv Sena over the chief minister’s post, Pawar helped bring together the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray.

His political calculations had also attracted attention in 2014, when he extended unconditional support to the BJP after the party emerged as the single-largest formation but fell short of a majority. Pawar said the move was intended to prevent political instability and another election.

In November 2019, he again played a crucial role during a dramatic government formation episode. His nephew Ajit Pawar briefly joined hands with the BJP and took oath as deputy chief minister in a government headed by Devendra Fadnavis. The arrangement collapsed within three days, paving the way for the MVA government.

Modi-Pawar Equation Adds To Political Speculation

Despite their association with rival political camps, Narendra Modi and Sharad Pawar have maintained a relationship marked by public expressions of respect.

During his 2015 visit to Baramati, Modi described Pawar as his political mentor. In 2017, the Centre honoured the NCP leader with the Padma Vibhushan.

Pawar’s political relationship with the BJP, however, has changed over the years. While he helped form the opposition-led MVA government in 2019, his nephew Ajit Pawar broke away from the NCP in July 2023 and joined the BJP-led Maharashtra government.

After the 2024 Assembly elections, Devendra Fadnavis became chief minister, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar as his deputies.

The possibility of Sharad Pawar’s faction moving closer to the ruling alliance has gained attention amid its organisational challenges and electoral setbacks. A realignment could potentially provide the faction with a role in government while also helping it retain political influence.

Supriya Sule At The Centre Of Future Decisions

Pawar has previously indicated that reunification with the rival NCP faction is being discussed within his party.

In an interview with an English newspaper last year, he acknowledged that some leaders favoured bringing the two groups together. He also suggested that the next generation, including his daughter Supriya Sule, would have an important role in deciding the matter.

The leadership question has become particularly significant following Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash in January 2026. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, subsequently took charge of his faction and became Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister.

Their son Parth Pawar, who entered the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, has also emerged as an influential figure. However, reports of dissatisfaction among some party functionaries over his growing influence have added to discussions about the faction’s future leadership.

A section of leaders is reportedly interested in bringing the two NCP groups together under the guidance of an experienced leader such as Sharad Pawar. Whether such an arrangement can be achieved remains uncertain.

Possible NCP Reunion Could Reshape Opposition Politics

Any agreement between the two NCP factions would have consequences extending beyond Maharashtra. If reunification is followed by an entry into the NDA, it could significantly change the balance within the state’s ruling and opposition alliances.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), could face a major political setback. The INDIA bloc at the national level could also be affected, given Pawar’s role in bringing opposition parties together.

Pawar had previously taken positions that differed from some of his opposition allies, including opposing the Congress demand for a special Parliament session on Operation Sindoor and criticising the Shiv Sena (UBT) over its stand on all-party delegations sent abroad.

These developments have further fuelled questions about his future political alignment.

For now, the meeting with Praful Patel and the reported conversation with Modi have generated considerable political interest, but neither a merger between the NCP factions nor a decision to join the NDA has been formally announced. The next steps involving Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar will be closely watched as Maharashtra awaits clarity on the NCP’s political direction.