Now which way is Sharad Pawar’s NCP headed – Congress, BJP or Shinde’s Shiv Sena?

With six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs and several MLAs and corporators recently jumping ship to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the buzz that attempts to “poach” are continuing in Maharashtra, the chatter now is that Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar is contemplating safer options for his party and daughter Supriya Sule.

In fact, multiple speculations are doing the rounds for the NCP (SP), which has eight Lok Sabha MPs and around 10 MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly, many of whom also seem to be inclined towards Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. The buzz also is that some NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MPs are “directly in touch with Union Minister Amit Shah”, but Pawar seems more inclined towards the Congress—his original alma mater.

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Sources say the 85-year-old Pawar, who began his political career in the Congress before launching his own party twice, is keen to merge his NCP (SP) with the Congress if daughter, Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, and loyalists get a larger role. “Either way, Pawar wants to settle things for his party and daughter’s future to ensure that the MPs and MLAs do not act like the Shiv Sena (UBT). A major faction within the NCP (SP) wants to be a part of the ruling side both at the Centre and in Maharashtra,” they said.

However, while Pawar wants a dialogue with the Congress, Supriya Sule seems more inclined towards the BJP.

Recently, when Supriya’s daughter Revati Sule married Nagpur-based industrialist Sarang Lakhani, the who’s who attended the wedding reportedly included RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The influential Nagpur-based business family is said to have close links with the BJP’s ideological fountainhead and also Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is “working on” bringing Pawar into the NDA fold, as per sources.

The situation as on date, appears to be fluid.

Sources say that some NCP (SP) MPs and MLAs are keen on the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and some on the BJP. But Pawar, widely described as one of India’s most astute, resilient and enduring politicians, wants to liaise with the Congress and prevent the second possible split in the party, the first being when nephew, late Ajit Pawar, left with lock, stock and barrel — the original NCP name and symbol — to join the NDA-led Mahayuti.