Speculation about a merger between the two NCP factions gained momentum earlier this week after senior leaders of the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP met Sharad Pawar, who was recently hospitalised due to a chest infection. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday asserted that the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP (SP) would not join the BJP-led National Democratic.