Mumbai: Political circles in Maharashtra are abuzz with speculation that the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may reunite following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik on Friday urged both groups to come together, stating that the Ajit Pawar faction currently has the support of 41 MLAs, while the Sharad Pawar faction has 10 MLAs, making reunification politically significant. He also suggested that Sunetra Pawar could effectively serve as Deputy Chief Minister if given the opportunity.
Meanwhile, senior NCP leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel and NCP Mumbai chief Sunil Tatkare met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a closed-door meeting that lasted nearly 90 minutes, triggering further speculation over possible political realignments.
Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife, had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramati but lost to her relative Supriya Sule. Subsequently, Ajit Pawar facilitated her nomination to the Rajya Sabha, and she took oath as a Member of Parliament on June 25 last year.
According to NCP sources, Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar had reportedly reached an understanding on merging their respective factions, with February 8 initially proposed for an official announcement. However, Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28 shocked the political establishment and stalled the process.
With the Baramati seat now vacant, speculation is growing that Sunetra Pawar may contest the by-election. Leaders from the Ajit Pawar camp are also said to be pressing for her appointment as Deputy Chief Minister, while others are advocating for a complete merger of both NCP factions. Political observers say clarity on the future of the party is expected in the coming days.