NCP leaders have moved quickly to fill the void caused by the death of Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
A pall of gloom set on Maharashtra following the demise of Ajit Pawar who didn’t survive the Baramati plane crash.
Now, NCP leaders have urged his wife and Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar to return to state politics. The suggestion is that she should lead the party or become deputy CM.
The tragedy also stalled merger talks between Ajit Pawar’s faction and NCP (SP).
According to reports, senior NCP (SP) leaders said February 8 was the tentative date for the merger. The tragedy may have made the unity more urgent.
Positive talks had taken place with Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and other senior figures, reports added.
A certain section of the media reported that the factions had planned to reunify after the recent civic polls. Leaders said the broader strategy remained unchanged.
Senior party members visited Sunetra Pawar at her residence on Thursday. They desired that she lead Ajit Pawar’s faction in the Mahayuti government.
Attendees reportedly included working president Praful Patel, state chief Sunil Tatkare, and minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
A meeting in Mumbai is expected to choose the NCP legislature party leader.
At the grassroots level, especially in Baramati, leaders want either of Ajit’s sons, Parth or Jay, to contest the bypoll.
NCP’s identity is tied to the Pawar family. The party had revolved around Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, and Supriya Sule. Many felt only Sunetra could hold the faction together.
Some leaders remained cautious, however. They were watching if Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule would pursue a merger of rival factions. A merger could reshape Maharashtra politics.
Observers revealed that Ajit Pawar had planned to groom Jay for a bigger role. Jay had met local units during the 2024 polls. Parth had contested and lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Maval.
For the records, Sunetra Pawar lost to Supriya Sule in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Baramati.
Now, it’s held that a Pawar family candidate in Baramati would face little challenge. Close associates confirmed that Ajit Pawar had been keen on merging the factions. He is believed to have said the merger was imminent. During the January 15 civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the factions had contested together and agreed to continue their alliance into the zilla parishad elections. Reports claimed Ajit Pawar had even set a roadmap for the merger.
Also Read: Ajit Pawar’s Mortal Remains Consigned To Flames https://www.vibesofindia.com/ajit-pawars-mortal-remains-consigned-to-flames/
