Pune: No Merger Proposal from Sharad Pawar’s NCP, Confirms Sunil Tatkare
Pune, 7th June 2025: Putting an end to recent speculation, Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) state president Sunil Tatkare on Friday clarified that there has been no proposal or discussion regarding a merger from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the party’s 26th Foundation Day event, scheduled for June 10 at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Mhalunge-Balewadi, Tatkare stated, “There has been no merger proposal from Sharad Pawar’s side. We make decisions collectively. Our decision to join the government under the leadership of Ajit Pawar was taken after multiple discussions, and anyone who aligns with our ideology is welcome to join.”
BJP Talks Date Back Years
Tatkare revealed that talks with the BJP had reached an advanced stage as early as 2016, with subsequent rounds of discussion taking place in 2019 and 2022 regarding seat-sharing arrangements. However, he clarified that the formal alliance only took shape later, through a unified decision within the party.
Leaders Present at the Briefing
Several senior party leaders were present at the briefing, including State General Secretary Shivajirao Garje, State Vice President Suresh Ghule, Women’s Wing President Rupali Chakankar, Youth Wing President Suraj Chavan, MLAs Chetan Tupe and Sunil Tingre, Pune City President Subhash Jagtap, Pimpri-Chinchwad President Yogesh Behl, and Working President Pradeep Deshmukh.
Mahayuti Alliance to Remain Intact
Speaking on the upcoming civic elections, Tatkare confirmed that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) would contest as part of the Mahayuti alliance, alongside the BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), in municipal, Zilla Parishad, and Nagar Parishad polls.
“There will be no fissures in the Mahayuti. All decisions will be taken jointly by the alliance partners,” he said.
Foundation Day Event and Internal Review
The upcoming foundation day will be attended by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also serves as the party’s national president. Tatkare said the event will be a platform to review the party’s performance over the last two years, take stock of organizational progress, and address the expectations of party workers and citizens. MPs, MLAs, and key office bearers are expected to attend.
Warning Against Criminal Activity
Tatkare also issued a strong warning to party members, urging them to stay away from criminal conduct. “Any party worker found involved in criminal activities will face strict disciplinary action and legal consequences,” he warned.
Clarification on ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’
On questions surrounding the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, Tatkare clarified that no funds were diverted from other welfare schemes. “The financial allocation has directly benefited women from the designated categories, as per policy,” he assured.
