Baramati, Maharashtra — In the aftermath of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s tragic death in a plane crash on Wednesday, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders convened in Baramati, sparking widespread speculation about the party’s future leadership and strategy.
Hours after the funeral, prominent NCP figures Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde met with Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife. While sources suggest that they urged her to consider taking up her late husband’s deputy chief minister position, Bhujbal clarified to NDTV that the meeting was merely a courtesy call with no political negotiations involved.
Maharashtra FDA Minister and senior NCP leader Narhari Zirwal indicated that the people of the state are eager to see Sunetra Pawar in the cabinet. Currently a Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra Pawar’s potential entry into state politics is being widely discussed, especially with the upcoming by-election for the Baramati Assembly constituency — a seat Ajit Pawar held since 1991. There is speculation that Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth or Jay Pawar, might contest the seat, while Sunetra’s entry could necessitate her election to either the legislative assembly or council if she’s to assume deputy chief ministerial responsibilities.
Analysts observe that Ajit Pawar’s departure leaves a significant leadership vacuum within the NCP. He was groomed by Sharad Pawar, and no other leader currently commands the same stature or respect. Potential successors like Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel are being considered as possible leaders, unless the party moves toward reconciliation with Sharad Pawar’s faction, which could dramatically alter the internal dynamics.
The party’s urgency to resolve its leadership question is also driven by recent setbacks, including its failure to gain control of key municipal corporations in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, raising concerns about its electoral prospects and unity.
Factional Perspectives on Future Alliances
Shashikant Shinde, Maharashtra President of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, told PTI that Ajit Pawar had previously discussed a possible merger of the party’s factions after local body elections.
“Ajit Pawar had expressed a desire to unify the two factions after the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls scheduled for February 5,” Shinde said. He added that Ajit Pawar was an emotional leader who wished for the party to stay united and that reconciliation was still possible if the family and party members desired it.
Asked about the possibility of the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) joining the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Shinde said, “Nothing is certain at this point. We will see if efforts to fulfill Ajit Pawar’s last wish for a merger are successful. Discussions about joining the ruling alliance can be taken up later.”
As the party navigates its next steps amid grief and political uncertainty, the coming weeks will be critical in shaping the future leadership and alliances of the NCP.