Fresh political speculation has emerged in Maharashtra following a series of meetings between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising questions about possible political realignments within the state's fractured NCP. The discussions come amid reports of growing internal differences within both the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). However, none of the parties involved has officially confirmed any plans for a split, merger or alliance change.

The latest round of speculation began after senior NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare held a late-night meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. A day later, Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar, also met the Chief Minister at his residence. While the purpose of the meetings has not been officially disclosed, sources indicated that discussions centred on recent political developments. The meetings reportedly surprised several leaders within the ruling NCP, with Sunetra Pawar seeking clarification from Tatkare regarding his interaction with the Chief Minister.

Sunil Tatkare dismissed suggestions of political significance, stating that his meeting with Fadnavis was administrative in nature and therefore did not require informing the party leadership beforehand. At the same time, reports suggest that differences within the NCP have become more pronounced since the death of former party leader Ajit Pawar. According to party insiders, Praful Patel and Tatkare are dissatisfied with the growing influence of Parth Pawar and his role in the organisation following his nomination to the Rajya Sabha after Sunetra Pawar vacated the seat upon becoming Deputy Chief Minister.

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Internal tensions have also surfaced publicly in recent weeks. Praful Patel had earlier spoken about the need for "corrective measures" within the party, while National Secretary Sachchidanand Singh questioned the legitimacy of Sunetra Pawar's appointment as party president, describing the process as "illegal, non-existent and void." These developments have added to perceptions of an emerging divide between leaders aligned with Sunetra and Parth Pawar and those supporting senior leaders such as Patel and Tatkare.

Political intrigue increased further after Jayant Patil, a senior leader from Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), was also seen meeting Chief Minister Fadnavis around the same period. Although Tatkare maintained that the simultaneous presence of multiple leaders at the Chief Minister's residence was merely coincidental, the sequence of meetings has fuelled speculation about possible negotiations between different political groups. Some political observers believe the interactions could indicate renewed discussions over future alignments, although no evidence has been presented to confirm such claims.

Reports have also suggested that Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare may be in discussions with a section of leaders from the Sharad Pawar faction regarding a possible shift towards the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, these claims have been denied by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), with party MP Supriya Sule reiterating that the party remains committed to the INDIA alliance. Until any official announcement is made, the meetings are likely to remain the subject of political speculation as Maharashtra's evolving political landscape continues to attract attention.

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