NCP Leaders Meet Ajit Pawar's Wife After Funeral – Succession Talk Begins?
NCP leaders meet Ajit Pawar's wife after funeral.
Hours after the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, senior NCP leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde held a meeting with his wife, Sunetra Pawar, in Baramati. The gathering has stirred speculation about succession planning within the party.
While Bhujbal described the meeting as a courtesy visit with no political discussions, sources suggest that leaders encouraged Sunetra Pawar to consider taking up the deputy chief minister’s post. Senior NCP minister Narhari Zirwal noted that the public may support her participation in the state cabinet.
Sunetra Pawar, currently a Rajya Sabha MP, would need to secure a seat in either the legislative assembly or council to formally take the deputy chief minister’s role. Analysts say the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election, a constituency held by Ajit Pawar since 1991, could see a family member like Parth or Jay Pawar being fielded.
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Political analysts emphasize that Ajit Pawar’s death leaves a major leadership void in the NCP, as few leaders command his stature or influence. Figures like Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel could emerge as contenders unless reconciliation occurs with the Sharad Pawar faction, potentially reshaping the party’s internal dynamics.
The urgency to resolve leadership questions has been heightened by recent municipal election setbacks, where the NCP failed to secure control of major corporations like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Party insiders say consolidating leadership quickly is crucial to prevent further loss of ground.
The Sharad Pawar faction has also weighed in, with Maharashtra NCP President Shashikant Shinde noting that Ajit Pawar had hoped for a merger between the two factions after local body elections. Shinde emphasized that discussions on alliances, including joining the ruling Mahayuti led by the BJP, would follow only after efforts to honor Ajit Pawar’s reconciliation wishes are explored.
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