Pune: Maharashtra minister and NCP senior Chhagan Bhujbal on Friday welcomed the possibility of a merger between the two NCPs, but asserted that his party would not leave NDA irrespective of reunification.Amid ongoing speculation over a merger, Bhujbal said discussions were on but stressed that no final decision had been taken. “There is no point in any individual discussing the issue with the other group. If the merger has to happen between NCP and NCP (SP), both sides should be involved in the discussions. This game of merger will have to be played as a team,” he said.While supporting the idea of the Pawar family and the two NCPs coming together, Bhujbal underlined the political complexities involved because the two groups are currently aligned with rival coalitions.“Our party (NCP) is with NDA, while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) is with INDIA bloc. So, the future of the merged party will also have to be decided. We will be happy if both Pawar families and the parties come together. But does that mean we are going to step out of govt? There is no reason for us to leave NDA,” Bhujbal clarified.Bhujbal’s remarks come as talks over a possible merger, which began towards the end of 2025 and had reportedly reached an advanced stage earlier this year, continue to generate political interest. The process, however, was disrupted following the death of former NCP chief Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Jan.Meetings linked to the merger buzz continued even on Friday. NCP chief Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth met a group of MLAs from the district at her residence in Pune. Among the MLAs were Dattatray Bharne, Chetan Tupe, Shankar Mandekar and Dnyaneshwar Katke.After the meeting, the MLAs said the merger issue had not been discussed. Bharne said, “Sunetra Pawar is our party chief, and whatever decision she takes regarding the merger, all MLAs will support her.”Separately, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule and NCP working president Praful Patel also met in Delhi, where she was attending a Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting. However, sources in both parties remained tightlipped about what was discussed at the meeting between the two.Bhujbal claimed he had played a role in initiating dialogue between Ajit Pawar and former NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil. “When I was in hospital following a surgery, both Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar happened to visit me around the same time. That was when I told Patil not to stay away, and suggested that we come together. Patil asked about the reaction of our allies. I told him that we would convince them. Ajit Pawar later took the lead and held meetings with Sharad Pawar and other members in Baramati,” Bhujbal said.He added that the responsibility for taking the process forward now rests with Sunetra Pawar. “It will be her decision. If she gives me the responsibility of initiating discussions with NCP (SP), I will not mind taking it up,” he said.Bhujbal also responded to reports that some party leaders were unhappy with NCP Rajya Sabha member Parth’s functioning. Several NCP seniors held a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Sunetra and Parth were not included in the meeting. Rejecting speculation around the meeting, Bhujbal said, “If we are unhappy, we would raise the issue at a party meeting in his (Parth’s) presence. Why would we discuss it in media?”
