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Is NCP merger on the way? (credit: X)
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s veteran politician former CM and NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar is likely to make its next big political move which can makes chaos in INDIA bloc. As per media reports, NCP (SP) is going to back the BJP government’s contentious bill to conduct the next delimitation bill in the parliament. If the reports turned out to be true, it would mark a break in INDIA bloc stand after the parties collectively voted against the bill during last Parliament session.
The reports cities that the fraction of NCP met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis late at night. This report also renewed the rumours of NCP, turning back into a single organisation again and lending support to the NDA at the Centre in some form.
However, while addressing a press conference on 15th July 2026, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule refused to confirm the speculation but indicated that the faction’s stand on the bill would depend on its final shape and form.
Sule told press that "If the government provides for a 50 per cent increase in seats across all states and clearly outlines its implementation, we will support it."
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The condition echoes the party’s earlier position and aligns with an assurance given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April, when he said the government was willing to amend the bill to provide for a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats across all states and ensure that no state was disadvantaged by the delimitation exercise.
However, when the constitution (131st Amendment) bill, 2026, introduced to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and operatioalise women’s reservation, failed to secure the required votes in the parliament.
Sule has also dismissed the speculation over late night meetings with CM Fadnavis.
