Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday alleged that leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were functioning at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s direction and would eventually join the saffron party, amid speculation over internal differences within the NCP following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, the Rajya Sabha MP said the NCP belonged to founder Sharad Pawar, while claiming that the faction led by Ajit Pawar had lost its political direction following his death.
Raut questions NCP leadership after Shah meeting
Raut’s remarks came after six senior NCP leaders met Shah in New Delhi on Sunday. The delegation included Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Dilip Walse Patil, Hassan Mushrif, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde.
The meeting reportedly took place amid discussions within the party over its demand for the Finance Ministry portfolio in Maharashtra to be returned to the NCP.
The absence of NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with her sons Parth and Jay, fuelled speculation about the party’s leadership and internal differences.
However, the NCP on Monday dismissed reports of a rift, describing the meeting as routine.
‘Both factions will lose political existence’
Raut alleged that the BJP was directing the functioning of leaders from Ajit Pawar’s faction and predicted that both NCP factions would eventually lose their political relevance.
“The MPs and MLAs of Ajit Pawar’s faction are functioning on the BJP’s directions and will eventually join the party,” he claimed.
In remarks reported by ANI, Raut accused Shah of creating two factions of the NCP to weaken Maharashtra.
“Amit Shah has created two factions (of NCP) to weaken Maharashtra. In the coming days, both the factions will lose their political existence. After Ajit Pawar’s, the Nationalist Congress Party has been left orphaned. This party belongs solely to Sharad Pawar. The Shiv Sena belongs solely to Uddhav Thackeray. These leaders act at the behest of the BJP,” he said.
NCP split dates back to 2023
The NCP was founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999 and split in July 2023, when Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government with a group of party leaders and legislators.
Ajit Pawar was appointed deputy chief minister at the time and continued in the post after Devendra Fadnavis became chief minister following the November 2024 Assembly elections.
The political split resulted in two factions, with the Election Commission recognising Ajit Pawar’s group as the NCP and Sharad Pawar’s faction retaining the name Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).
Raut renews demand for CEC’s resignation
During the press conference, Raut also reiterated his demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, criticising a rally held in Telangana under the banner of saving democracy.
“We are not seeking a discussion; we are demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Yesterday, they held a rally in Telangana in the name of ‘saving democracy’—yet, it was a rally organised by those who are murdering democracy. The question remains – from whom exactly are they trying to ‘save’ democracy?” he said.
In another political remark, Raut said, “Rahul Gandhi will become the country’s Prime Minister, and Amit Shah will end up in Tihar Jail.”
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
