Mumbai, Nov 2026 : A one-and-a-half-hour meeting between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Working President Praful Patel and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday has reignited speculation about a possible reunion or merger between the two factions of the party.
Patel met the veteran politician at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where Pawar has been admitted since Wednesday and is undergoing medical examinations. The NCP leader said he had visited to enquire about Pawar’s health but acknowledged that the two also discussed political developments.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Patel said Pawar was in good health and appeared cheerful. He explained that the senior leader had experienced fatigue, following which he was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune before being shifted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai for a comprehensive health check-up.
“He had some fatigue due to which he went to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, and now he has come to the Breach Candy Hospital for a complete check-up,” Patel said.
Describing his interaction with Pawar, Patel said their personal relationship remained cordial despite their political differences.
“Pawar Saheb was smiling and asking about what is going on politically. His health is currently very good. Whatever our political stances may be, our personal affection remains intact. Our political paths had drifted apart, but I keep meeting Pawar Saheb as we have family ties,” he said.
Patel added that Pawar had generally enquired about political developments in the country and Maharashtra, as well as international affairs, including the situation in the United States. However, he declined to disclose details of their political discussion.
Patel's visit came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Sharad Pawar on Wednesday to enquire about his health. Vitthal Maniyar, a family friend and close associate of the veteran leader, said the Prime Minister had urged Pawar to prioritise his health and take adequate rest.
According to Maniyar, Modi told Pawar that Supriya Sule and others would take care of the country's affairs and that the veteran leader should focus on his recovery.
The meeting has attracted political attention against the backdrop of growing differences between senior and younger leaders within the NCP. On November 1, a group of senior party leaders reportedly met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and raised concerns over the alleged unilateral functioning of NCP MP Parth Pawar.
The delegation reportedly included several prominent NCP leaders, while party chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar were absent.
According to reports, Shah advised the leaders to strengthen the party organisation, warning that organisational weaknesses within the NCP could adversely affect the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra.
Following the meeting, Praful Patel, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and former minister Dilip Walse Patil briefed the party's core committee, led by Sunetra Pawar, on Monday. They reportedly emphasised the need for urgent corrective measures to address organisational concerns.
Although the NCP has denied any proposal for a merger or reunion with the Sharad Pawar-led faction, Patel's latest meeting has renewed speculation about the possibility of political reconciliation.
Patel indicated that he was likely to meet Sharad Pawar again on or after November 10, adding another dimension to the political discussions surrounding the two factions.
Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal also visited the hospital to enquire about Pawar's health. Congress MLA Vishwajit Kadam subsequently called on the veteran politician.
While Patel maintained that his visit was primarily personal, the timing of the meeting, coupled with the recent organisational developments within the NCP, has brought the question of a possible rapprochement between the two factions back into the political spotlight.
