The Bharatiya Janata Party has signalled that the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party faction can join the National Democratic Alliance only as part of a unified NCP. The position matters because it ties Maharashtra coalition management to support in Parliament for the delimitation Bill and the women’s reservation Bill.
What the Bharatiya Janata Party has indicated
According to party sources, the Bharatiya Janata Party has told its Maharashtra allies that it will not accept the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction as a separate entrant into the National Democratic Alliance. The party position is that there is no question of any merger into the Bharatiya Janata Party itself, and only a merged, unified Nationalist Congress Party would be considered.
The reported message is meant to reassure existing allies in the Mahayuti and reduce insecurity within the coalition. The Bharatiya Janata Party is also said to be sensitive to demographic and caste-balance issues in Maharashtra politics, which makes a direct merger with one faction politically difficult.
Background and earlier position
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