Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) rules out support to NDA, says delimitation stance depends on bill

The NCP (SP) said it would examine the government`s final proposal before deciding its detailed position. File Pic

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) on Monday dismissed speculation that it could extend support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying it remains firmly with the Opposition INDIA bloc, reported the PTI.

The party also said its position on the proposed delimitation exercise would be decided only after the government presents the final draft of the Bill in Parliament.

NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said party MP and working president Supriya Sule led a delegation that met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss issues concerning Maharashtra.

Tapase said the meeting lasted around 20 minutes and was arranged after the Prime Minister's Office confirmed the appointment on Friday.

He stressed that the meeting was not political and was not linked to the proposed delimitation legislation.

"There is no proposal or discussion on delimitation in Parliament today. First, the Bill should come. Once the Bill comes, it will be discussed with the INDIA alliance," Tapase said, according to the PTI.

Party denies any understanding with BJP

Tapase rejected speculation that the meeting could signal a rapprochement between the two NCP factions or a possible understanding between the Sharad Pawar-led party and the BJP.

He said the NCP (SP) remained part of the Opposition bloc and had not entered into any political understanding with the BJP or NDA in 2014, 2019 or 2024.

"Why would we do so now?" he asked.

Tapase said the party had continued to build its own organisation following the NCP split and was strengthening its cadre under the leadership of Supriya Sule, Rohit Pawar, Jayant Patil and Shashikant Shinde.

Delimitation Bill yet to be presented

On delimitation, Tapase said the government had not yet decided whether to introduce the proposed legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

He said no draft Bill had been circulated among MPs for discussion.

"I don't think the delimitation Bill will come in the next two-three days," Tapase said, as per the PTI.

He added that the NCP (SP) would first study the legislation before taking a final position, following which the matter would be discussed within the INDIA alliance.

Tapase also opposed linking the implementation of women's reservation with delimitation.

He said the women's reservation legislation passed by Parliament in 2023 should be implemented immediately rather than being kept pending until the delimitation exercise is completed.

"The women's reservation Bill has already been passed. It should be implemented immediately. Linking it with delimitation is wrong," he said.

He also said the NCP (SP) could consider a proposal for 50 per cent reservation for women if such a proposal came up for discussion.

Southern states oppose delimitation: NCP (SP)

Tapase said the NCP (SP) had opposed the proposed delimitation exercise within the INDIA bloc.

He claimed that southern states had also expressed strong opposition to the proposal, amid concerns over how changes in constituency boundaries and parliamentary representation could affect states with lower population growth.

The party said it would examine the government's final proposal before deciding its detailed position.

(with PTI inputs)