A routine courtesy call has set off the biggest political guessing game in Maharashtra this week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday morning to ask after his health, and within hours, speculation was swirling in Mumbai and Delhi that his daughter, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, could be headed for the Union Cabinet.
The buzz gathered pace after Union minister Ramdas Athawale said at a press conference in Thane that Sule might be considered in the upcoming Cabinet expansion, and that the NDA would be only happy to welcome her. Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor Pawar has confirmed the details of the phone conversation, but the remarks attributed to Modi by a close aide of Pawar have already set off fresh speculation in Maharashtra politics.
What Modi reportedly told Pawar
According to Vitthal Maniyar, a close associate of Sharad Pawar, the Prime Minister called on Wednesday morning to enquire about the veteran leader’s health and urged him to take complete rest. Maniyar told reporters in Pune that Modi said: “Saheb, please take complete rest. Supriya is ready now. Supriya and we will take care of the country. You rest; this is my request.”
Maniyar said Pawar thanked the Prime Minister and replied that he was resting and had no worries about the country. Neither Modi nor Pawar has publicly confirmed the exchange.
Pawar, 85, was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune on Monday, November 2, after complaining of a cough and pleuritic chest pain. He was discharged on Wednesday after two days of treatment, and was later admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai for further tests. Sule had earlier said his health parameters were stable.
Athawale’s remark in Thane
Hours before Maniyar spoke to the media, Athawale made the loaded statement about Sule at a press conference in Thane. The Union minister and president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale group) said Sule could be included when the Cabinet is expanded, and described her joining the NDA as a welcome development.
Athawale was more circumspect about Pawar himself joining the NDA, saying he did not foresee such a move. He added that had Pawar joined forces with the NDA in 2019, he could have become the President of India, and noted that Ajit Pawar had urged the senior Pawar to join the NDA, but he did not heed the suggestion.
The NCP reunification question
The speculation does not stop at a Cabinet berth. Reports suggest efforts are on to reunite the two rival NCP factions under the NDA umbrella, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah said to be involved. The Week reported that leaders from the Ajit Pawar faction met Shah in Delhi on Monday to seek his intervention in reuniting the factions led by Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar.
Those at the Delhi meeting included Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde and Chhagan Bhujbal, according to the report. The BJP leadership is understood to have urged them to resolve their internal differences and strengthen the NDA.
Both factions have denied any merger move, and Pawar had categorically ruled out a merger with the NDA-aligned faction in late July, though he acknowledged that discussions had earlier taken place between NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar.
Why the buzz matters
The timing is hard to ignore. A Cabinet expansion has been anticipated for some time, and Maharashtra remains central to the NDA’s arithmetic. Sule, the Baramati MP and one of the more visible opposition voices in Parliament, would be a significant addition if she crossed over.
For now, everything rests on interpretation. A phone call about health, a minister’s suggestive remark and a meeting in Delhi do not add up to a done deal, and both Pawar and Sule have given no indication of a switch. But in Maharashtra politics, where the NCP split in 2023 and loyalties have shifted since, few in Delhi are treating the buzz as idle talk.
What happens next will depend on Sule and Pawar. Until either of them speaks, the speculation will keep growing, and every statement from the NDA camp will be read for a signal.
FAQs
Is Supriya Sule joining the Union Cabinet?
There is no official confirmation. Speculation grew after minister Ramdas Athawale said she could be considered in the upcoming Cabinet expansion and that the NDA would welcome her.
What did PM Modi reportedly tell Sharad Pawar?
According to Pawar’s close aide Vitthal Maniyar, Modi called on Wednesday to ask after Pawar’s health and said Supriya was ready and would look after the country along with him while Pawar rested. Neither the PMO nor Pawar has confirmed the conversation.
Why was Sharad Pawar in hospital?
Pawar, 85, was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune on November 2 with a cough and pleuritic chest pain. He was discharged on November 4 and later admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai for further tests.
Are the two NCP factions merging?
Reports say leaders from the Ajit Pawar faction met Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Monday to discuss reunification, but both factions have denied any merger move.
When is the Cabinet expansion expected?
No date has been announced. Athawale’s remarks referred to an anticipated expansion, and the timing remains a decision for the Prime Minister.
Stay with Informeia for the latest updates on Maharashtra politics and the Union Cabinet expansion.
