The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) core committee met on Wednesday for the second time in three days, amid speculation over internal differences following a meeting between senior party leaders and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi that was attended neither by party president nor Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar nor her sons.
A senior NCP leader confirmed that the core committee met in the morning but declined to disclose the agenda. “There is nothing to share in public,” the leader told PTI.
Sunetra Pawar attended the meeting, sources told PTI.
NCP holds successive meetings amid political speculation
The latest meeting followed a series of discussions within the party after six senior NCP leaders met Shah in Delhi on Sunday.
The party’s core committee had earlier met in Mumbai on Monday, while its legislators gathered on Tuesday night at Sunetra Pawar’s official residence, Deogiri, in south Mumbai.
The successive meetings have drawn attention amid speculation about the party’s internal functioning and the future of its relationship with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
NCP leaders have rejected reports suggesting that Sunetra Pawar and her sons were being sidelined. They have also denied speculation about a possible merger with the NCP (SP).
Senior leaders meet Amit Shah in Delhi
A delegation comprising Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Dilip Walse Patil, Hassan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde met Shah in Delhi on Sunday.
The absence of Sunetra Pawar and her sons, Parth Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and Jay Pawar from the meeting triggered speculation in political circles.
The NCP subsequently dismissed reports of internal friction, with a party leader saying the discussions were aimed at improving coordination between the NCP and other constituents of the Mahayuti alliance.
The ruling alliance in Maharashtra comprises the BJP, the NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Sunetra Pawar meets legislators, projects party unity
On Tuesday, Sunetra Pawar met party legislators at Deogiri, where she expressed confidence that the NCP would win more seats in the 2029 elections.
Around 50 legislators, including ministers, attended the meeting. Her sons, Parth and Jay, were also present.
Mumbai NCP president Zeeshan Siddique later said the legislators, ministers and office-bearers who attended the meeting had unanimously expressed support for Sunetra Pawar’s leadership.
The meeting came amid reports of differences within the party over its organisational functioning and leadership.
NCP denies merger speculation
The NCP has also rejected reports suggesting that it could merge with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
The two factions emerged after Ajit Pawar led a vertical split in the NCP in July 2023 and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government. He was appointed Deputy Chief Minister at the time.
Ajit Pawar continued in the post after Devendra Fadnavis became Chief Minister following the November 2024 Assembly elections.
Sunetra Pawar takes charge after Ajit Pawar’s death
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in January 2026. Following his death, Sunetra Pawar took over as the NCP president and became Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister.
The party has since sought to maintain unity amid speculation about its leadership and organisational direction.
The latest core committee meeting comes against this backdrop, with party leaders maintaining that the NCP remains united under Sunetra Pawar’s leadership.
(With inputs from PTI)
