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Sanjay Raut claims Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar may reunite, but warns Ajit Pawar will face action and leave government as NCP factions fight under the same symbol in elections.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut; Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar (Image: PTI/File)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday made strong remarks about the political dynamics within Maharashtra, claiming that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar “seem to be coming together.”
Addressing reporters in Mumbai, Raut stated that Ajit Pawar would ultimately be forced out of the state government and “action” would be taken against him, noting that candidates from both factions “are fighting under the same election symbol.”
“Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar seem to be coming together. Candidates from both are fighting under the same election symbol. Sharad Pawar will join the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar is with us. Action will be taken against Ajit Pawar. He will have to leave the government, you can’t have the feet in two boats…,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.
Raut’s comments come amid continued speculation over the future of the NCP factions following the party’s split and Ajit Pawar’s decision to join the BJP-led Maharashtra government last year.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, has been positioning itself as a united opposition force against the ruling alliance in the state. Raut’s remarks suggest confidence within the MVA camp that Sharad Pawar remains firmly aligned with the opposition bloc.
At the same time, Raut warned that Ajit Pawar’s attempt to balance roles within rival political camps would not be sustainable in the long run.
Neither Sharad Pawar nor Ajit Pawar has responded to Raut’s comments so far, but the remarks are likely to intensify political speculation in the state in the days ahead.
NCP 2023 Split
The uncle-nephew duo, who were once united within the NCP, parted ways in 2023 when Ajit Pawar allied with the BJP in Maharashtra. Since the split, Sharad Pawar’s faction of the party has aligned itself with the Opposition alliance at both the state and national levels. Speculation about a reconciliation between the two leaders began to grow following the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance’s sweeping victory in last year’s Maharashtra Assembly elections.
January 24, 2026, 14:53 IST
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