NEW DELHI: The split in NCP with the bulk of party MLAs joining hands with BJP and the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena has put a spanner in the opposition's efforts to build upon Congress's Karnataka victory to try and engineer an anti-BJP front, while boosting the endeavour of PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to strengthen the NDA.Ajit 'Dada' Pawar's entry into NDA coincides with the progress Amit Shah has made towards bringing back crucial MBC and OBC players - Mukesh Sahni of Vikassheel Insaan Party, a party of fishermen and boatmen; and Om Prakash Rajbhar's Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party - in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.Talks on to bring SAD, TDP, Kushwaha back to NDA foldTalks are at an advanced stage for the return of Shiromani Akali Dal, Telugu Desam Party and Bihar's OBC face Upendra Kushwaha to the BJP-led NDA, which a few days ago had inducted Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi.NCP's induction comes amid persisting speculation about the reconstitution of the Union ministry and immediately led many to wonder if Praful Patel, a Sharad Pawar loyalist just like Chhagan Bhujbal and a surprise face in the breakaway faction, could be inducted along with a nominee of the Shiv Sena's Shinde faction.There is a possibility that the PM Modi cabinet reshuffle may be effected after President Droupadi Murmu's return to the capital after her three-day visit to the Vidarbha region from July 4-6 and before PM Modi's trip to Paris on July 13-14.

However, the party is still tight-lipped about any rejig plan.BJP celebrated the split in NCP because of its repercussions on the opposition's unity efforts.

"The developments in Maharashtra have blown the lid off the so-called opposition unity.

The parties involved in the alliance are singing their own different tunes anyway, the revolt against Sharad Pawar will further undercut the attempt," a senior BJP functionary said.The BJP leader said AAP's Arvind Kejriwal has already said goodbye to the alliance and TMC leaders have made it loud and clear that they don't need any alliance in West Bengal.

"That's why there is no such thing as opposition unity and the entire NCP family switching over to the NDA has made a mockery of the opposition's unity plan," the leader said.While the opposition claimed that the induction of several NCP leaders facing graft allegations had exposed Modi's claim to fight corruption, this did not seem to be a bother in the festivities.Party sources cited media reports claiming that NCP MPs, MLAs and leaders were left fuming at the manner in which Pawar had accepted the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, and said this contributed to the division in the party.

Sources said that while Ajit Pawar was already unhappy with the organisational changes and Supriya Sule being appointed party chief, he managed to win over many fence-sitters after Pawar Sr indicated accepting Rahul's leadership.

BJP sources asserted that the party had nothing to do with the internal politics of NCP.The party is confident that the wider BJP front will be the overwhelming favourite for the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

Pawar's humbling adds to the BJP's happiness.

The party has been resentful of what they call Pawar's double-dealings and has pointed out that the Maratha leader, while projecting himself as an unflinching "secularist", has always been open to negotiate with BJP in exchange for "adequate returns".They cited Pawar's public offers of support to BJP after the 2014 polls threw up a hung House.

Pawar recently acknowledged, after repeated denials, that he did hold power-sharing talks with Devendra Fadnavis after the 2019 assembly elections and when Uddhav Thackeray, in a surprise move, decided to break the Hindutva alliance.

Although Pawar said his secret parleys with Fadnavis were only a ploy, a "double googly" he called it, and that he only wanted to expose the Maharashtra BJP leader, BJP has maintained otherwise.