The differences have become increasingly visible as senior figures from both factions explore political reconciliation, while Rohit Pawar, the party chief’s grand-nephew, and other leaders oppose joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The proposed merger remains uncertain, with no formal agreement announced and conflicting positions emerging from senior leaders. The central disagreement concerns whether organisational reunification should also require the Sharad Pawar faction to abandon its existing opposition alignment.
Party working president Supriya Sule has stated that she has received no merger proposal. Her intervention follows assertions by Rohit Pawar that neither she nor Sharad Pawar has discussed any arrangement involving the BJP with him.
Rohit Pawar, who represents Karjat-Jamkhed in the Maharashtra Assembly, has publicly challenged suggestions that reunification is inevitable. He has maintained that the two factions cannot simply be brought together under the political conditions governing the ruling coalition.
The legislator has also criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for suggesting that the BJP would necessarily be consulted before any merger involving its existing alliance partner.
Fadnavis has maintained that decisions concerning the two NCP factions belong to their respective leaderships. However, he has emphasised that the BJP, as the principal constituent of the ruling alliance, would expect consultation on developments affecting its coalition arrangements.
The disagreement has exposed competing priorities within the Sharad Pawar organisation. Some leaders regard reunification as an opportunity to restore organisational strength, while others believe association with the BJP would undermine their established political commitments.
There are indications that Rohit Pawar and like-minded colleagues could consider alternative political arrangements if the party leadership eventually endorses participation in the NDA. Suggestions that he might move towards the Congress remain unconfirmed, and no formal decision has been announced.
Such a development would represent a significant challenge for Sharad Pawar, whose political authority has traditionally enabled him to manage competing interests within the organisation.
The uncertainty has been compounded by differing assessments of whether merger negotiations are actually underway.
Senior leaders from both factions have held meetings and maintained contact, but those interactions have not produced an agreed framework covering leadership, organisational responsibilities or political alignment.
Praful Patel, a senior leader of the NCP headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, met Sharad Pawar while the latter was undergoing treatment in Mumbai. Their interaction encouraged speculation about further discussions.
Parth Pawar, Sunetra Pawar’s son, also met the veteran leader, while several senior figures from the Sharad Pawar faction visited him during the same period.
Those meetings have generated competing interpretations. Some political figures view them as evidence of renewed efforts towards reconciliation, while leaders involved have maintained that personal and health-related considerations also prompted the visits.
Sunetra Pawar has avoided making a definitive public commitment on reunification. Her position is important because her faction remains part of the Mahayuti government alongside the BJP and Shiv Sena.
The question of leadership within a united organisation is another unresolved issue. Any merger would require agreement between figures holding substantial influence over their respective party structures.
The debate follows the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in January. His death altered the political circumstances surrounding discussions about restoring unity between the organisations.
Rohit Pawar has acknowledged that Ajit Pawar favoured reconciliation within the family and between the factions. However, he has questioned contradictory statements about the progress of merger discussions before and after his death.
The Sharad Pawar faction also faces the practical question of maintaining its relationships with opposition parties if negotiations eventually advance towards an agreement involving the ruling alliance.
Several prominent leaders, including Jayant Patil, Shashikant Shinde, Jitendra Awhad and Amol Kolhe, remain influential within the organisation. Their positions would matter in any formal decision on its political future.
For now, the discussions have not established a timetable for reunification, nor has either faction publicly presented a mutually accepted formula.
Sharad Pawar, who turns 86 in December, continues to head the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), while Sule serves as its national working president. The rival NCP is headed by Sunetra Pawar, who succeeded Ajit Pawar following his death.
