'Supriya Is Ready Now': Modi's Phone Call To Sharad Pawar Sparks Political Buzz

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar to enquire about his health and reportedly told the 85-year-old leader that his daughter, Supriya Sule, was ready to take care of the country alongside him.

According to Pawar's close aide Vitthal Maniyar, Modi urged the veteran politician to take complete rest during the conversation, following his discharge from Pune's Ruby Hall Clinic.

"This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to enquire about Saheb's health. He spoke to Saheb with great affection and respect and 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 told reporters in Pune.

Pawar reportedly responded that he had no worries about the country as long as leaders such as Modi continued working.

"Saheb told him, 'I am resting, and when all of you are there, I have no worries about the country. You keep working.' Saheb thanked him for enquiring about his health," Maniyar said.

Neither Modi nor Pawar has publicly confirmed the conversation.

Sharad Pawar Admitted To Hospital For Follow-Up

Pawar was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic on November 2 after complaining of a cough and pleuritic chest pain. He had toured drought-hit parts of Maharashtra shortly before his hospitalisation.

His daughter, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, had earlier said that doctors were conducting medical tests and that his health parameters remained stable.

Following his discharge, Pawar was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai for a follow-up examination on Wednesday.

Modi-Pawar Conversation Fuels Speculation Over NCP Merger

Although the telephone call was seen as a courtesy gesture, the reported exchange has triggered fresh speculation about political realignments in Maharashtra, particularly the possibility of reunification between the two NCP factions.

Discussions about a possible merger have gained attention following the death of Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar's nephew, in a plane crash on January 28, 2026.

Ajit had broken away from his uncle in 2023 and joined the BJP-led Mahayuti government, triggering a split in the NCP. The Election Commission subsequently recognised his faction as the original NCP, forcing Sharad Pawar's group to adopt the name NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).

After Ajit's death, his wife Sunetra Pawar took over as deputy chief of the faction and was sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on January 31.

The possibility of a merger has remained politically sensitive, particularly as Supriya Sule continues to be a prominent face of the Congress-led INDIA bloc. She also attended the Opposition alliance's rally in Delhi on November 1 over allegations of electoral irregularities and collusion between the Election Commission and the BJP.

NCP Leaders Meet Amit Shah Over Internal Differences

A delegation of senior NCP leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday night, reportedly raising concerns over Sunetra Pawar and her son Parth Pawar's unilateral decision-making.

The absence of Sunetra and her sons, Parth and Jay, from the meeting fuelled speculation about internal differences.

However, Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare ruled out a merger with the Sharad Pawar-led faction, saying the party would work collectively under Sunetra's leadership. He acknowledged that the issue was discussed with Shah and said the NCP would also seek the finance portfolio previously held by Ajit Pawar.

Sharad Pawar Had Earlier Ruled Out Merger

The question of reunification has remained unresolved since Ajit Pawar's rebellion in June-July 2023, when he took control of the original NCP and joined the BJP-led government.

Sharad Pawar had previously said that no merger talks were underway, while acknowledging that discussions had taken place between NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar.

He subsequently ruled out a merger with the NDA-aligned faction in late July.

Modi's reported remarks about Supriya Sule have now added another dimension to the political speculation, although neither side has indicated any formal change in its political position.