Why BJP is cosying up to Sharad Pawar, pushing for NCP merger

The BJP is attempting to strengthen ties with regional parties, including the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as it grapples with the implementation of recent legislation like delimitation and women's reservation Bills. The BJP views Pawar, a seasoned politician with extensive connections, as a valuable ally in securing support for these crucial bills.

Recent developments include Prime Minister Modi calling Pawar while he was hospitalized, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah meeting with an NCP delegation in Delhi. Despite Congress's political resurgence, the BJP recognizes the importance of regional parties in politics. The NCP, with eight Lok Sabha MPs, is still a significant political force in Maharashtra, and the BJP believes strengthening regional parties is a strategic necessity.

However, the NCP's internal divisions, particularly over the role of Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, pose challenges for a potential merger. Meanwhile, Pawar's presence in hospital has not raised any unusual concerns among BJP leaders, who see his cordial relationship with Modi as natural. The BJP's strategy includes encouraging all parties to engage in the legislative process, despite ideological differences, in order to secure the necessary majority for the Bills.