Sharad Pawar’s public distancing from merger talks has cast fresh doubt over the possibility of a reunification of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions.

Sharad Pawar’s public distancing from merger talks has cast fresh doubt over the possibility of a reunification of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions. His comments have brought into the open the resistance within the ruling NCP towards a merger. A merged NCP would likely see Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule playing a central role in decision making. Many second-rung NCP leaders feel more emboldened to speak out against accommodating new leaders in his absence. The two factions are expected to meet in the next few days to discuss their future.