Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar has hinted at the possibility of a reunion between the two factions of the NCP, signalling a potential thaw in the rift that split the party last year.

Speaking informally to the media, Pawar acknowledged that a section within his party was open to the idea of reuniting with the Ajit Pawar-led faction.

“If the reunion happens, it should not surprise others,” he said, suggesting that internal discussions were already underway, The Times of India reported.

Pawar, however, clarified that he was not directly involved in the process, adding that his daughter and senior party leader Supriya Sule would need to engage in talks with her cousin and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The NCP had fractured in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar, along with a significant number of party MLAs, broke away to join hands with the BJP and Shiv Sena, becoming part of the Mahayuti coalition government in Maharashtra.

The Mahayuti alliance went on to secure a commanding victory in the 2024 assembly elections. In contrast, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), which allied with the Shiv Sena (UBT), faced electoral setbacks, failing to make a significant impact in the polls.