BJP’s Grand Maharashtra Strategy: NCP Merger, NDA Entry and Two Cabinet Berths in the Works

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly working on an ambitious political strategy aimed at reuniting the two rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), bringing the merged party into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and offering two Union Cabinet berths as part of a broader political realignment ahead of key legislative battles in Parliament. The discussions, according to multiple reports, are still at the proposal stage and no final agreement has been announced. According to sources, the BJP leadership favours a reunification of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP, while allowing the party to retain its separate political identity instead of merging into the BJP. The proposed formula reportedly includes two Union Cabinet positions to accommodate leaders from both factions and ensure a balanced power-sharing arrangement within a united NCP. The reported move is closely linked to the Centre’s legislative priorities. With major constitutional measures—such as the proposed implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act and a future Delimitation Bill expected to require broad parliamentary support, the BJP is said to be seeking additional allies to strengthen the NDA’s numbers in both Houses of Parliament. Political observers believe that retaining the NCP as an independent NDA constituent could also help the BJP broaden its social and electoral outreach in Maharashtra, particularly among Maratha and other influential regional communities, while preserving the NCP’s established political base. However, significant hurdles remain. Reports indicate that differences persist over leadership, organisational control, and the distribution of key positions within a reunited party. There are also varying views within the two NCP camps regarding the terms of any merger and a possible alignment with the NDA. Publicly, leaders from the Sharad Pawar faction have denied any decision to join the NDA. NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule recently stated that the party has neither taken a decision on joining the alliance nor finalised its position on the proposed Delimitation Bill, underscoring that the reported discussions have not translated into an official political agreement. If the proposal succeeds, it would mark one of the most significant political realignments in Maharashtra since the NCP split, potentially reshaping the state’s coalition politics and strengthening the NDA’s parliamentary position ahead of crucial legislative and electoral contests. For now, however, the plan remains under negotiation. While reports suggest active back-channel discussions, the merger, Cabinet allocations, and NDA entry will depend on consensus among the NCP factions and formal decisions by their leadership.