As Pawars gear up for NCP Foundation Day events, rival camps expect clarity amid reunion buzz

NCP factions in Maharashtra deny reunion talks despite speculation, holding separate Foundation Day events in Pune on June 10.

Rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will hold separate Foundation Day gatherings in Pune on June 10 in the backdrop of a growing buzz over a reunion, though both sides insisted there was no such proposal on the table despite frequent meetings between their top leaders.

Maharashtra NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Jayant Patil clarified that talk about both the factions coming together was "only in the air", and there has been no discussion on a possible reunion.

Talking to PTI, Mr. Patil said, ''On June 10, we will celebrate the 26th year of foundation of our party. It is our Foundation Day, and there is no formal talk of a reunion between the two factions. The buzz is only in the air. But I think there is a possibility of clarity on the issue after the Foundation Day programme." '

'Apart from Pawar saheb (NCP-SP president Sharad Pawar), four to five prominent office-bearers will speak at the gathering," the former Minister informed.

Sharad Pawar will address workers and office-bearers of the opposition party at the function in the morning, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the ruling NCP, will participate in a Foundation Day programme of his faction the same evening in Pune.

State NCP president Sunil Tatkare also clarified there was no proposal or discussion on a merger or an alliance between the two groups.

Frequent meetings between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar at public and private events have fuelled speculations about the factions reuniting after a split in the party in July 2023.