Raut Dismisses NCP Merger Buzz as Mahayuti Allies Clash

Sanjay Raut Dismisses NCP Merger Buzz as Mahayuti Allies Trade Charges

Politics Desk | Monday, November 9, 2026, 20:38 IST

Sanjay Raut NCP merger buzz Mahayuti Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed the NCP merger buzz on 9 November 2026.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed talk of a merger between the two NCP factions on 9 November 2026, saying there is no proposal on the table, after Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat claimed the merger was in its final stages.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday, 9 November 2026, dismissed the buzz of a merger between the Nationalist Congress Party and the NCP (SP) and said Sharad Pawar will not let his years of penance go in vain by aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "There is no proposal of merger on the table," Raut asserted.

How the merger buzz gained strength

The merger buzz gained strength last week after several leaders of the Sunetra Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party, including Praful Patel and Parth Pawar, met Sharad Pawar, who was recently hospitalised for a chest infection. A viral video showed Sharad Pawar and Patel discussing a possible meeting after 10 November. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat claimed on Sunday, speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Diwali, that a merger between the Sunetra Pawar led NCP and the Sharad Pawar led NCP (SP) appeared to be in its final stages. Shirsat pointed to a meeting between Parth Pawar and Sharad Pawar to support his claim, and said developments regarding the merger were in their final stages and roles for various leaders would soon be finalised.

Raut's rebuttal and the state of the NCP

Raut claimed the Nationalist Congress Party has become leaderless after the death of then deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in an air crash in January 2026. The NCP is currently led by deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar. Raut said, "Sharad Pawar will not let his years of penance go to vain (by aligning with the BJP)." The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, while the NCP is aligned with the BJP led NDA at the Centre and the Mahayuti in Maharashtra. State presidents of both factions, Sunil Tatkare of the NCP and Shashikant Shinde of the NCP (SP), denied the reports last week, calling the merger a closed chapter.

NCP hits back at Shiv Sena

The NCP took strong exception to Shirsat's claim. NCP national spokesperson Umesh Patil issued a video message questioning the Shiv Sena's stance, asking why the Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena does not consider merging with the Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) instead. "Why don't two Shiv Senas merge?" Patil asked, turning Shirsat's merger claim back on the Shiv Sena. The fresh rift within the ruling coalition erupted after Shirsat's claim on Sunday. The exchange follows a recent fallout between the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena over the State Legislative Council elections, where the BJP blamed the Sena for its candidate's defeat in Pune, while the Sena criticised the BJP for fielding the wrong candidate.

What happens next

With both NCP state presidents denying the merger and Raut dismissing it outright, the buzz appears to have no official backing from either faction. The episode has, however, exposed fresh friction inside the Mahayuti, with the NCP and the Shiv Sena now openly trading charges after the earlier BJP Sena fallout over the Legislative Council elections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What did Sanjay Raut say about the NCP merger on 9 November 2026?

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said there is no proposal of merger on the table and that Sharad Pawar will not let his years of penance go in vain by aligning with the BJP.

Who claimed the NCP merger was in its final stages?

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat claimed on Sunday, speaking in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, that a merger between the Sunetra Pawar led NCP and the Sharad Pawar led NCP (SP) was in its final stages.

How did the NCP respond to Shirsat's claim?

NCP national spokesperson Umesh Patil issued a video message asking why the two Shiv Senas do not merge instead, while state presidents Sunil Tatkare and Shashikant Shinde denied the merger reports last week.