Eknath Shinde Rules Out Contact With Sharad Pawar MPs, Says NDA Entry Is PM Modi and Amit Shah’s Decision

New Delhi | July 16, 2026

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde denied reports of contact with Sharad Pawar’s MPs, stating NDA decisions rest with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah while defending political meetings.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday dismissed speculation over the possible induction of leaders from Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that neither side had initiated any communication regarding such a move.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Shinde said decisions on who joins the NDA are taken solely by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He clarified that none of Sharad Pawar’s Members of Parliament had approached him or his party, nor had the ruling alliance initiated any discussions with them.

Commenting on recent political meetings that sparked speculation, Shinde said there was nothing unusual about NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil meeting the Chief Minister. According to him, Patil had visited to discuss an issue concerning Sangli. He also pointed out that Jayant Patil had met him earlier for official work and that senior NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare had also met the Chief Minister over administrative matters.

Shinde added that even Sharad Pawar had recently visited his office in the Maharashtra Legislature. Such interactions, he said, reflect Maharashtra’s long-standing political culture where leaders from different parties meet each other despite ideological differences. “If someone visits us, we welcome them. That is Maharashtra’s tradition,” he remarked.

On the issue of farmers, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that the state government had fulfilled its farm loan waiver commitment and removed hurdles related to the ₹50,000 incentive scheme. He maintained that farmers have the foremost claim on the state’s treasury and assured that the government would continue taking decisions in their interest.

Targeting Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over his recent remarks on Hindutva and Ram Raksha, Shinde said Thackeray should first learn the Ram Raksha before speaking about it. He also took a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, saying his party spokespersons would respond to the criticism and alleging that the public already knows whom Raut represents.

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