Supriya Sule Rules Out NCP Merger Talks After Ajit Pawar’s Death

Amid ongoing speculation about the reunification of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Supriya Sule has ruled out the possibility of a merger with the faction led by Sunetra Pawar. She said discussions about bringing the two factions together came to a halt following the death of her cousin, Ajit Pawar.

Speaking at a press conference at Silver Oak in Mumbai on Saturday, November 14, 2026, the Baramati MP clarified that her party had received no communication or proposal from the rival faction regarding a merger.

Sule said no contact had been made through phone calls, WhatsApp, SMS, letters or emails. She added that discussions about reunification had been taking place while Ajit Pawar was alive, and a date had also reportedly been fixed.

“The day my brother passed away, there was a complete stop in my mind, my heart and the talk of merger in our party,” Sule said, making her position clear on the issue.

Merger Discussions Ended After Ajit Pawar’s Demise

Sule reiterated that the possibility of a merger was linked to Ajit Pawar and that his death brought those discussions to an end. She also pointed out that leaders from both factions had previously spoken about the proposed reunification.

Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati in January 2026. Following his death, his wife, Sunetra Pawar, took charge of his faction.

Sule’s latest remarks indicate that her party is not currently considering a merger with the rival group.

Supriya Sule Urges Focus on Key National Issues

The NCP-SP leader also expressed frustration over repeated questions about merger speculation. She urged the media to focus on important national issues and ongoing parliamentary discussions.

Sule specifically referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) proceedings on major legislative matters, including the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ framework.

She said the Central Government was introducing significant legislation and that these policy matters deserved greater attention.

Appealing to the media, Sule said she would be happy to answer questions on important national issues but would no longer respond to queries about the merger.

Sule Comments on Proposed Increase in Assembly Seats

During the press conference, Sule also addressed the proposed increase of 50 per cent in the number of seats across states as part of the delimitation exercise.

She said her party accepted the proposal in principle, considering the significant rise in the number of voters. The proposal, as described in her remarks, would cover states across the country, from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari.