NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule says no merger with Congress

A senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has firmly denied widespread speculation about a potential merger between her party and the Indian National Congress. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur on Saturday, June 13, NCP (SP) working president and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule stated that no formal proposal for a merger had been given or received by her party.

Sule's comments directly addressed recent political discourse suggesting that regional parties originally formed from the Congress could rejoin it to consolidate opposition strength ahead of the 2029 general elections. She stated that neither she, party founder Sharad Pawar, nor other senior leaders like Jayant Patil and Shashikant Shinde were aware of any such proposal. "No one has contacted us or given any proposal to us, and nor have we contacted or given a proposal to anyone," Sule said.

The speculation had gained traction following a reported discussion within the Congress and subsequent public remarks by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who advocated for bringing parties like the Trinamool Congress and the NCP (SP) under the Congress umbrella to better challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata...