NCP merger talks began in Jan, Sharad Pawar planned handover to Ajit: Sources
India Today
The core of these discussions involved a major leadership shift. Sharad Pawar would announce his retirement from active politics, transitioning into a purely advisory role. In exchange, the Sharad Pawar faction agreed to merge into Ajit Pawar's NCP, granting him complete functional control.
Barely a week after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s death, new details have emerged, with sources in the Sharad Pawar faction revealing that merger talks between the two NCP factions had begun as early as January 2025. Sources further told India Today that Sharad Pawar was preparing to step away from active politics and hand over the reins to his nephew, Ajit Pawar.
The process was initiated during a legislative session when Ajit Pawar approached NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) Maharashtra chief Jayant Patil, sources said. This led to a series of secret late-night meetings at Patil's residence in Mumbai to draft a roadmap for the party's future.
The core of these discussions involved a major leadership shift. Sharad Pawar would announce his retirement from active politics, transitioning into a purely advisory role.
In exchange, the Sharad Pawar faction agreed to merge into Ajit Pawar’s NCP, granting him complete functional control. However, the final execution of this plan rested on Ajit Pawar securing approval from the BJP high command regarding cabinet berths.
The proposed formula for Terms and Conditions included:
National Leadership: Ajit Pawar to hold the post of National President with supreme decision-making authority.
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