Why Did Sharad Pawar Meet Eknath Shinde? Courtesy Call or Political Signal?

The meeting between NCP (SP) founder Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has fuelled speculation over a possible political realignment.

Sharad Pawar and his MLAs met Shinde at his office on Wednesday. According to reports, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister greeted the NCP (SP) chief with a shawl and a bouquet. However, the details of the meeting have not been revealed.

Pawar was in the Vidhan Bhavan to take part in the meeting on Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute. After the meeting, Sharad Pawar visited Shinde's office along with Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad and Shashikant Shinde on Wednesday.

When Pawar and NCP (SP) MLAs visited, Shinde was holding a cabinet meeting and he stopped it to welcome the NCP founder. They had a 15-minute meeting before the Deputy Chief Minister returned to the cabinet meeting, according to a report in India Today.

However, both Shiv Sena and NCP (SP) stated that the political equations remain same and it was a courtesy meeting between senior Pawar and the Deputy Chief Minister.

Responding to the meeting, NCP (Sharad Pawar) state president Shashikant Shinde told IANS, "Sharad Pawar attended the meeting of the committee on the Maharashtra border issue. After Pawar Saheb arrived, we also held a meeting with our MLAs, MPs, and corporators. Since Pawar Saheb is here during the Assembly session, he has interacted with everyone. The speculations about joining the NDA or merging with any other party is completely false."

Shiv Sena leader and Minister Uday Samant downplayed the meeting and said, "Sharad Pawar, who is a senior leader of the country, visits the office of our leader Eknath Shinde, then respecting and welcoming him is a part of Maharashtra's political tradition. There is nothing wrong with that."

Mumbai, Maharashtra: NCP (Sharad Pawar) state president Shashikant Shinde says, "Sharad Pawar attended the meeting of the committee on the Maharashtra border issue. After Pawar Saheb arrived, we also held a meeting with our MLAs, MPs, and corporators. Since Pawar Saheb is here… pic.twitter.com/pPjDx5YI01

— IANS (@ians_india) July 8, 2026

In the last 10 years, the Maharashtra politics has taken a lot of twists and turns with leaders changing loyalties and breaking parties.

Notably, Eknath Shinde led the rebellion in the Shiv Sena to bring down Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government and to form the NDA government. Late Ajit Pawar broke away from the NCP to join hands with the BJP-led government.