MUMBAI, July 18 -- As talks to reunite the rival Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gather momentum, insiders with knowledge of the issue told HT, that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) has sought one berth in the union cabinet and at least two cabinet positions in the state government. The party is looking to strengthen its claim on the state finance portfolio, which has become a bone of contention among the coalition partners in the ruling Mahayuti, apart from the position of the party's national president if talks between the two factions go through successfully, said party leaders. Sources said the reunification talks gained fresh momentum after receiving BJP's approval. The BJP is in favour of a united NCP as it would strengthen the NDA's numbers in the Lok Sabha, particularly ahead of the proposed Delimitation Bill, which is expected to require a two-thirds majority for passage. According to party leaders, NCP (SP) has indicated that it is willing to support the legislation subject to certain conditions. NCP (SP) has 8 MPs and NCP has 1 in Lok Sabha. "We are keen to get one berth in the union cabinet and at least two in the state," said a senior leader, on condition of anonymity. NCP (SP) sources said the union cabinet berth is likely to go to Supriya Sule, the party's working national president. The leader added, "The party is seeking the state finance portfolio as it has a seasoned leader such as Jayant Patil, who headed the department in the past. Jitendra Awhad is the other leader who is likely to be inducted." It is against this backdrop that Patil and Awhad met Shiv Sena president and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence, Nandanvan, on Thursday. The meeting was significant as Shinde himself has staked claim on the finance portfolio, sources said. "Shinde saheb believes the Shiv Sena is in a stronger position to claim the finance department than NCP (SP). We had opposed allocating the portfolio to Ajit Pawar when the NCP joined the Mahayuti government in July 2023," a senior Shiv Sena leader said. However, Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Shashikant Shinde denied that any merger talks were underway. "There are no discussions on merging the two parties. We have received no proposal either for a merger or to join the NDA," he said. Shinde added that he is currently touring Maharashtra to strengthen the party organisation....