Maharashtra: Political Speculation Takes Off As Fadnavis, Patil Fly Together

The development comes a day before eight NCP (SP) MPs are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. While the meeting has been linked in political circles to the proposed delimitation Bill, the NCP (SP) has maintained that its MPs will meet the Prime Minister to raise issues concerning Maharashtra.

Mr. Patil’s interaction with Mr. Fadnavis assumes significance against the backdrop of speculation that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) could join the BJP-led NDA as an ally.

The latest development comes amid a series of meetings between NCP (SP) leaders and senior BJP and Mahayuti leaders.

On July 3, Mr. Patil met senior BJP leader and national general secretary Vinod Tawde at a five-star hotel in Mumbai. Four days later, on July 7, NCP founder Sharad Pawar met then Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at Mr. Shinde’s chamber in the Maharashtra Legislature. Mr. Shinde felicitated Mr. Pawar, with both sides later describing the interaction as a courtesy meeting.

Subsequently, on the night of July 14, Mr. Patil met Mr. Fadnavis at the Chief Minister’s official residence, Varsha, along with Sunetra Pawar-led NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel. The meeting lasted only a few minutes.

On July 22, Mr. Pawar met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi along with his daughter and Baramati Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule. The meeting was said to have focused on the Gen Z protests and other issues.

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said on Saturday that the party’s eight MPs would meet Prime Minister Modi at his office in Parliament at 11 a.m. on Monday.

According to Ms. Sule, the delegation would raise serious issues concerning Maharashtra, including the water crisis, farmer suicides, challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and related developmental concerns.

Reacting to the scheduled meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said there should be no confusion within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). “No one is going anywhere and no one is leaving the MVA,” he said.

Mr. Raut said added that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) was an important constituent of the MVA and that Mr. Pawar remained their guide.

An insider in the Mahayuti described Mr. Patil’s presence on the same flight as Fadnavis as a coincidence. “Mr. Patil and Mr. Narwekar were seated in the same row but on different sides, while the Chief Minister was seated in a different row,” the insider claimed.

Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan also played down the significance of the journey, claiming that there was no point in discussing Mr. Patil travelling on the same commercial flight as the Chief Minister. “It was a commercial flight. Anyone can book a ticket and travel,” Mr. Mahajan said.