No formal proposal yet, say senior NCP(SP) leaders amid buzz over merger with Congress

Senior NCP (SP) leaders said there is no official proposal yet for Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) to merge with Congress Hindu On Friday, June 12, 2026.

“Nobody has spoken to Sharad Pawar about this yet. sahib or with [Baramati MP] Supriya Sule,” said a senior party leader.

While the Congress’s Maharashtra unit refused to comment on merger-related speculations, sources said such a proposal has been in the pipeline for some time.

‘Party leaders will accept the call’

When asked, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshawardhan Sapkal said, “This is a matter for our central leadership to look into. If asked, I will convey my opinion to the central leadership, as I have done in the past.”

NCP (SP) State President Shashikant Shinde dismissed the speculations, calling it “just a rumour”. He said that the party recently celebrated its foundation day and decided to intensify its fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party.

‘Ship sinking’

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded to merger rumors by calling the Congress a “sinking ship”. “Congress is a sinking ship. Nobody will step on it. Hypothetical questions are not answered in politics. But let me tell you this, if it happens, it will only strengthen us,” he said.

When reached for comment on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s suggestion that NCP (SP) and Trinamool Congress merge with the grand old party, the Baramati MP termed it as Mr. Raut’s personal opinion.

Later, he told reporters that the Shiv Sena (UBT) was like a “big brother” and his party would consider his suggestion.

‘Congress is not willing’

The state Congress leadership is said to be not in favor of the merger due to differences between the two parties.

“He will eventually become a burden. We have an anti-Adani stance. For them, Adani is like a family member. There are internal problems within the party and everyone is worried about the future of NCP (SP),” said a senior Congress leader.

The leader added: “There are concerns about who will be the leader after Sharad Pawar. Since there is unrest within their party, different things are being talked about. There are fears that the leaders and cadres may switch to Sunetra Pawar or the BJP.”