MUMBAI — A clandestine late-night meeting at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ official residence has sent ripples through the state’s political landscape, reigniting speculation of a potential realignment between rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The gathering, which included leaders from both the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the breakaway faction loyal to the late Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, has exposed the fragility of Maharashtra’s post-2024 electoral alliances. While all parties involved have dismissed the meeting as routine, its timing, venue, and participants have fueled conjecture about backchannel negotiations that could reshape the state’s power dynamics ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
What Happened?
On the evening of June 10, 2026, a group of NCP leaders from both the Sharad Pawar and Parth Pawar factions arrived at Varsha, the chief minister’s official residence in Mumbai. According to sources cited by NDTV, the meeting lasted nearly two hours and was described as an “informal discussion on routine political coordination.” However, the presence of senior leaders from both factions—including Sharad Pawar’s close aide Jayant Patil and Parth Pawar’s key lieutenant Chhagan Bhujbal—has raised questions about its true purpose.
Neither faction has provided a detailed account of the discussions, but both have publicly downplayed its significance. The Sharad Pawar camp, which has maintained a strained relationship with the BJP-led state government, issued a statement calling the meeting “a courtesy call with no political implications.” Meanwhile, the Parth Pawar faction, which had previously aligned with the BJP after Ajit Pawar’s split from the NCP in 2023, described it as a “routine interaction” with the chief minister.
Despite these denials, the meeting’s optics have sparked intense speculation. Political analysts note that the choice of venue—Fadnavis’ residence—is particularly telling, given the BJP’s long-standing efforts to weaken the NCP by exploiting its internal divisions. The fact that leaders from both factions were present in the same room, six months after Ajit Pawar’s death left a leadership vacuum, suggests that informal negotiations may be underway.
Why It Matters
The late-night meeting carries significant implications for Maharashtra’s political future, particularly as the state prepares for critical municipal elections in 2026. The NCP, once a dominant force in Maharashtra politics, has been fractured since Ajit Pawar’s dramatic split in 2023, when he joined the BJP-led government with a group of rebel legislators. Though Ajit Pawar later returned to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, his death in January 2026 reignited power struggles within the party.
For the Sharad Pawar faction, a reunification with the Parth Pawar group could restore the NCP’s electoral strength, particularly in western Maharashtra, where the breakaway faction retains significant influence. However, such a move would also require navigating deep-seated mistrust, as Sharad Pawar has repeatedly accused the BJP of engineering the 2023 split to destabilize his party.
For the BJP, the stakes are equally high. The party has struggled to consolidate its position in Maharashtra since the 2024 state elections, where it lost its majority and was forced into an uneasy coalition with the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and smaller allies. A reunified NCP could either emerge as a formidable opposition force or, if co-opted, provide the BJP with a broader legislative base. The late-night meeting suggests that the BJP is actively exploring both possibilities.
Background and Context
The NCP’s internal divisions trace back to July 2023, when Ajit Pawar, then the party’s deputy leader, staged a rebellion against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and joined the BJP-led government with 40 NCP legislators. The move was widely seen as a calculated attempt by the BJP to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2024 state elections. However, the alliance proved short-lived; Ajit Pawar returned to the NCP in early 2024 after the BJP failed to secure a majority in the assembly.
Ajit Pawar’s death in January 2026 left the breakaway faction in a precarious position. While his son, Parth Pawar, assumed leadership of the group, he lacks the political experience and mass appeal of his father. Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar faction has sought to consolidate its control over the party’s organizational structure, expelling several leaders loyal to the breakaway group.
The BJP, for its part, has maintained a delicate balancing act. While it has publicly supported the Parth Pawar faction, it has also avoided overtly antagonizing Sharad Pawar, who remains a influential figure in Maharashtra politics. The late-night meeting at Fadnavis’ residence suggests that the BJP is testing the waters for a potential realignment, though the risks of such a move are substantial.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
The primary source of uncertainty surrounding the meeting is the lack of clarity about its agenda. While NDTV’s sources described it as an “informal discussion,” the presence of senior leaders from both factions raises questions about whether substantive negotiations took place. Neither the Sharad Pawar nor the Parth Pawar camp has provided a detailed readout of the discussions, leaving room for speculation.
Sharad Pawar’s faction has been particularly vocal in dismissing rumors of a rapprochement. In a press statement issued on June 11, the party reiterated that it “remains committed to its core ideology and will not entertain any backroom deals with the BJP.” However, political observers note that such denials are often a tactical move to avoid alienating supporters while negotiations are underway.
The Parth Pawar faction, meanwhile, has adopted a more ambiguous stance. While it has downplayed the meeting’s significance, it has not ruled out the possibility of future cooperation with the BJP. Chhagan Bhujbal, a key leader in the breakaway group, told reporters that “politics is dynamic, and all options remain on the table.” His remarks have been interpreted as a signal that the faction is open to exploring new alliances, particularly if it means securing a stronger position in the 2026 elections.
The BJP, for its part, has maintained a studied silence. Chief Minister Fadnavis, who has a history of engineering political realignments in Maharashtra, has not commented on the meeting. However, his decision to host the gathering at his official residence suggests that the party is actively monitoring the situation.
What to Watch Next
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the late-night meeting was a one-off event or the beginning of a broader realignment. Key developments to watch include:
1. Formal Statements from NCP Leaders – Any shift in tone from the Sharad Pawar or Parth Pawar factions could signal a change in strategy. If either camp softens its stance on cooperation with the BJP, it would indicate that backchannel negotiations are progressing.
2. Legislative Maneuvering – The Maharashtra assembly’s monsoon session, scheduled to begin in July 2026, will provide an opportunity to observe whether the two NCP factions coordinate their positions on key issues. If they begin voting together on critical bills, it could suggest a thawing of relations.
3. BJP’s Public Posture – The BJP’s response to the meeting will be telling. If the party begins publicly courting the Parth Pawar faction or offering concessions to the Sharad Pawar group, it would confirm that a realignment is under consideration.
4. 2026 Municipal Election Preparations – The NCP’s campaign strategy for the upcoming municipal elections will be closely scrutinized. If the two factions field joint candidates in key districts, it would be a strong indicator of a reunification effort.
5. Sharad Pawar’s Role – At 85, Sharad Pawar remains the NCP’s most influential figure. His public statements in the coming weeks will be critical in shaping the party’s direction. If he signals openness to a rapprochement with the Parth Pawar faction, it could pave the way for a broader realignment.
Conclusion
The late-night meeting at Devendra Fadnavis’ residence has once again exposed the fluidity of Maharashtra’s political alliances. While all parties involved have dismissed the gathering as routine, its timing and venue suggest that informal negotiations may be underway. For the NCP, the stakes are existential: a reunification could restore its electoral strength, but it would also require overcoming deep-seated mistrust. For the BJP, the meeting represents an opportunity to either co-opt a weakened opposition or risk facing a resurgent NCP in the 2026 elections.
Maharashtra’s history of last-minute alliances and defections makes long-term predictions difficult, but one thing is clear: the state’s political chessboard is far from settled. The coming weeks will reveal whether this meeting was a mere footnote in the state’s political drama or the first move in a high-stakes realignment.
Story synopsis gathered from: [NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/late-night-meeting-fuels-ajit-pawar-sharad-pawar-ncp-camp-realignment-buzz-11773602#publisher=newsstand) — source.
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Story synopsis gathered from: NDTV – India News — source.
