Sharad Pawar Meets NCP (SP) MLAs In Eknath Shinde's Office, Sparks Buzz; Party Denies NDA Speculation

Published 9 July 2026 · local

Sharad Pawar Meets NCP (SP) MLAs In Eknath Shinde's Office, Sparks Buzz; Party Denies NDA Speculation Published By, Last Updated: July 09, 2026, 12:04 IST

Sharad Pawar Meets NCP (SP) MLAs In Eknath Shinde's Office, Sparks Buzz; Party Denies NDA Speculation Published By, Last Updated: July 09, 2026, 12:04 IST Sharad Pawar met NCP (SP) MLAs in Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's office at Vidhan Bhavan, triggering political buzz. NCP (SP) denied NDA speculation. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde felicitates NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar during a meeting in Mumbai (Photo: PTI) A meeting between Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar and MLAs of his party inside Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office at the Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday sparked fresh political speculation, with leaders from the NCP (SP) and the ruling alliance later insisting that the interaction was purely incidental and not linked to any political realignment. The development quickly generated buzz in Maharashtra’s political circles as Pawar, whose party is a key constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), was seen meeting his party legislators in the chamber of Eknath Shinde, whose Shiv Sena is part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition. Both sides, however, dismissed speculation that the meeting signalled any change in political equations. Sharad Pawar was at the Maharashtra legislature complex to attend a meeting of the high-powered committee constituted by the state government to address the long-pending Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister’s Office, after the committee meeting concluded, Pawar paid a courtesy visit to Eknath Shinde in his chamber. Shinde welcomed the veteran leader with a shawl and a bouquet. No details of the discussions between the two leaders were disclosed. However, NCP (SP) leaders later clarified that Pawar had first met party MLAs inside Shinde’s office, which became the focal point of the political buzz. WHY SHINDE’S OFFICE WAS CHOSEN NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil said the venue was chosen purely for logistical reasons and had no political significance. He told news agency PTI that party legislators wanted to meet Sharad Pawar before he left the Vidhan Bhavan complex. According to Patil, walking back to the room where most Opposition MLAs sit would have been difficult for the veteran leader. “Walking back to the room where most of the Opposition MLAs sit would have been difficult for Pawar saheb. So we thought Shinde’s cabin would be convenient given it is located near the exit, so Pawar saheb could avoid long walking," Patil said. He further clarified that Eknath Shinde was not present in his office when Pawar arrived. “I suggested to Pawar saheb to sit there to meet our MLAs.