NCP reunion buzz: Sharad Pawar meets all 8 MPs, Sule takes care ride with BJP’s Vinod Tawde

The developments occurred two days after all eight NCP (SP) MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Parliament office on Monday

Amid speculation over a possible reunification of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sharad Pawar, president of the NCP (SP), held a meeting with all eight of his party’s MPs at his New Delhi residence on Wednesday.

Sharad Pawar held Wednesday’s meeting at his 6 Janpath residence, with all eight NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MPs in attendance. (HT Photo)

Further fuelling the speculation, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule was later seen travelling in the same car as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Vinod Tawde in the national capital.

The developments occurred two days after all eight NCP (SP) MPs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Parliament office on Monday. Later that evening, Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah also attended the wedding reception of Sule’s daughter, Revati, at Pawar’s New Delhi residence.

Pawar held Wednesday’s meeting at his 6 Janpath residence, with all eight NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MPs in attendance. The MPs, however, downplayed the development, describing it as a routine meeting.

“During every Parliament session, Pawar saheb discusses issues with all the MPs. He briefs us on any new information necessary for us to know and reviews pending development works. It was a casual, routine meeting,” said NCP (SP) MP Amol Kolhe.

Another party MP, Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil, said Pawar shared his past experiences with them and sought updates on pending issues concerning their constituencies. The veteran leader also assured them that he would speak to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis about some of the pending works, he added.

Later on Wednesday, Sule, along with other Maharashtra MPs, attended a meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil at the New Maharashtra Sadan. The meeting was regarding the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the centre’s flagship programme aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water through household tap connections in rural areas.

Soon after the meeting, Sule travelled in the same car as Tawde, prompting fresh speculation in political circles. The two leaders were reportedly headed to another parliamentary committee meeting.

The latest developments come amid renewed speculation over a possible reunification of the two NCP factions. Pawar and Sule had also met Modi on July 22, further fuelling talk of a possible rapprochement between the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the faction led by deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar.

The meeting also fuelled speculation that the NCP (SP) could support the proposed Delimitation Bill in Parliament. The BJP leadership had shown interest in reuniting the two factions. However, Sunetra Pawar and her elder son Parth had opposed the merger.