Veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar said on Saturday that there had been no discussion with Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, regarding her possible oath-taking as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister. He described the matter as an internal decision of her faction.
Speaking in Baramati, Sharad Pawar said his side did not know in advance that such an oath-taking programme was being planned. Still, he acknowledged that Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare are senior leaders in their own NCP group, and it is up to their faction to decide its future steps.
Ajit Pawar Wanted NCP Factions to Reunite
Sharad Pawar also spoke about efforts to reunite the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He claimed that bringing the party back together had been a long-standing wish of Ajit Pawar, who was serving as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister before he died in a plane crash on Wednesday. According to him, talks for reunification had been going on for several months.
“It was Ajit Dada’s wish that the two NCP factions should come together. We also desire that his wish be fulfilled.” He further said that Ajit Pawar and senior leader Jayant Patil had been involved in discussions for the past four months and that “the talks were positive”. “Ajit Pawar wanted to announce the merger on February 12. This was his wish,” Sharad Pawar added.
Merger Uncertain After Ajit Pawar’s Death
Sharad Pawar’s remarks support the ongoing political talk that a reunion of the NCP factions had been quietly progressing before Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash near Baramati. However, his death has now created uncertainty over whether the merger will actually happen.
Sunetra Pawar May Be Offered Deputy CM Post
According to reports, the ruling Mahayuti alliance has decided to offer the deputy chief minister’s post to Sunetra Pawar, especially as talks about a party merger continue.
There is also a view in political circles that some senior leaders close to Ajit Pawar did not want Sharad Pawar to regain control of the party.
It is still not clear whether Sharad Pawar or Supriya Sule will attend Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking ceremony if she takes oath as deputy chief minister.
#WATCH | Mumbai | Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy CM late Ajit Pawar, reaches their Mumbai residence. pic.twitter.com/MJUlAMrasZ
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2026
