New Delhi: The BJP’s central leadership is keen on bringing in the two NCP factions—NCP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar)—as a single entity within the NDA fold, senior BJP functionaries told ThePrint.
This, they said, would also help the BJP shore up its numbers in Parliament, especially when it needs a two-thirds majority to pass the constitutional amendment bills to link women’s quota with delimitation. According to sources in the BJP, the party’s central leadership favours retaining the ‘united’ NCP as a separate entity within the NDA.
Ever since the split in the NCP and Shiv Sena, the BJP, as the dominant player in Maharashtra, does not favour introducing any ‘instability’ or ‘insecurity’ within the alliance and therefore does not favour the NCP (SP) faction merging with the BJP, said sources.
“If you look at the current political landscape of Maharashtra both the Shiv Sena and NCP have split. Eknath Shinde and the Ajit Pawar faction are with the NDA. Some from the Sharad Pawar faction have shown an interest in joining the BJP and we believe both factions should join hands and then become part of the NDA. This will prove healthier for the entire NCP alliance as well as for the NDA,” said a senior Maharashtra BJP leader, who did not wish to be named.
The BJP, it is learnt, is willing to offer one berth each in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers to both NCP factions if they agree to a merger.
“If the two NCP factions come together we will increase the number of ministers at the Centre as well. However, the party leadership of both factions will have to iron out many issues and decide who will head the united faction. Will it be Sunetra or Supriya Sule? Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar wants Sunetra to be the president as well as the deputy CM. So there are a number of issues that need to be taken care of,” said the senior BJP leader.
A number of senior party leaders including NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, working president Praful Patel, and Chhagan Bhujbal are in favour of a more balanced power-sharing arrangement, it is learnt.
Sources also said that there appears to be some internal conflict within the NCP (SP) over the prospect of joining hands with the BJP, with many MLAs and MPs exploring an alliance but Sharad Pawar seeming reluctant.
Another reason the BJP is looking at inducting the united NCP into its fold is that it would bring electoral dominance—41 MLAs from the Ajit Pawar faction, combined with the grassroots appeal of Sharad Pawar’s group (NCP-SP) will help prevent a split in votes and strengthen the NDA’s base.
At the same time, the BJP too is not keen on bringing in NCP (SP) within its fold since it fears that such a move could dent its vote bank. “At the same time, this will also help us to consolidate the non-Brahmin and Maratha votes in Maharashtra,” added the senior BJP leader from Maharashtra.
In addition, the BJP’s central leadership is of the view that a united NCP could also simplify seat-sharing talks going further. “If both the factions merge together it also helps us in countering the Opposition, as a united NCP provides a solid Maratha-centric vote bank to stabilise the ruling coalition,” he added.
Talks of an NCP merger gained currency after NCP’s Praful Patel and Jayant Patil of NCP (SP) met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 15 July. Even as some initial discussions have taken place, internal strife within the NCP (SP) remains a constant concern for the party, given that Patel and Tatkare have met Fadnavis on more than one occasion, without necessarily keeping Sunetra Pawar in the loop.
“Parth Pawar is quite ambitious and Tatkare, Praful as well as Chhagan Bhujbal feel insecure. They want Sunetra as the face for the next elections. So there are serious leadership tussles within the NCP (AP),” the senior BJP leader said. Adding, “A lot depends on the internal strife in the NCP which is ongoing between Sunetra Pawar and senior leaders.”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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