Sharad Pawar may join NDA, says Shiv Sena Minister

As Sharad Pawar's NCP is in talks with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction for alliances in several municipal corporations in Maharashtra, unease has grown within the Opposition bloc. Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) minister Sanjay Shirsat has claimed the move is a precursor to Sharad Pawar eventually joining the NDA.

"In the coming future there is a possibility that Sharad Pawar could join the NDA. Did anyone believe that he would join hands with Uddhav Thackeray, but he did, and they were in power for two-and-a-half years. He opposed Sonia Gandhi and left the Congress, and then immediately made an alliance with them. It would not be surprising if he joins the NDA. If you study politics, this has been his career pattern," Shirsat said.

His comments have prompted further questions about the next steps of the NCP (SP), which is currently in talks with the Ajit Pawar faction for alliances in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations.


Leaders in the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Sena and the Congress are understood to be unhappy with the NCP (SP) engaging with a party aligned with the BJP at both the state and national levels.

The NCP (SP), however, dismissed Shirsat's remarks. "This is an attempt to cast doubt on our integrity," party leader Jayant Patil said, adding that the comments should not be taken seriously.

Significantly, Patil also confirmed that the NCP (SP) is in parallel talks with both the UBT Sena-MNS combine and the Congress for the Mumbai municipal elections.

"Yes, we have two delegations. One is talking to the Congress on seat-sharing, and another is in discussions with the UBT Sena-MNS for the Mumbai civic polls," he said.

Patil defended the party's engagement with the Ajit Pawar faction in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. "Our priority has always been to go with the Congress and Shiv Sena in civic bodies. However, in these two corporations we had more corporators when we were united. Hence, we are assessing the possibility of an alliance there," he said.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has effectively fractured in the local body polls, with each party entering separate arrangements. The UBT Sena has tied up with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the Mumbai polls, prompting the Congress to announce that it will contest alone. Besides Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the NCP (SP) is also exploring possible alliances for the Thane and Kolhapur municipal corporations.