Top NCP leaders rule out any realignment with the BJP, but their recent moves indicate they are keeping their options open in case of a political emergency
In June 2022, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who was the urban development minister in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by his party president Uddhav Thackeray, sprung a surprise by walking out along with 39 other Shiv Sena MLAs. He later became the chief minister in a coalition government with the BJP. Ten months later, there is speculation whether the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the MVA’s rainbow alliance, could see another ‘Shinde’ from its ranks.