Ajit Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has defended his decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Maharashtra, stating that simply protesting and raising slogans from the opposition is insufficient. He asserted that he and his colleagues are "not saints" content with perpetual opposition, but rather aim to address people's issues and drive development through inclusive politics.

Speaking at an event in Pune on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, marking the 26th foundation day of the undivided NCP, Ajit Pawar addressed questions surrounding his move to align with the BJP. He reminded attendees that the NCP had previously aligned with the Shiv Sena in 2019, implying that compromises are inherent in political alliances. He emphasized that his faction's focus is on development, ensuring government schemes reach all sections of society, and improving living standards.

Ajit Pawar, who became a deputy chief minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government after splitting from his uncle Sharad Pawar's faction in July 2023, addressed speculation about a potential reunion of the two NCP factions. While acknowledging that party workers may have differing opinions, he clarified that the final decision rests with the party leadership.

Sunil Tatkare, the NCP state president, further clarified that the decision to join the NDA was a collective one, guided by Ajit Pawar. He dismissed rumors of a reunion with Sharad Pawar's faction, emphasizing that the party remains committed to secular values under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Tatkare highlighted that the NCP's decision to join the ruling alliance in 2023 was made in the interest of public welfare, upholding the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and Shahu Maharaj.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar, speaking at a separate event commemorating the NCP's foundation day, acknowledged the unexpected split within the party. He expressed gratitude to party workers for their continued efforts and loyalty to the party's principles. Looking ahead, he expressed confidence in a "different picture" emerging in future elections and urged supporters to remain united and committed to public service. He stressed the importance of developing new leaders, particularly among youth and women, and highlighted the party's commitment to fielding more women candidates in upcoming civic polls, leveraging the 50% quota for women in local body elections.

The NCP officially split in July 2023, when Ajit Pawar led a group of MLAs to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government. The Election Commission later awarded the NCP name and its "clock" symbol to the Ajit Pawar group, while Sharad Pawar's faction was named NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).