New Delhi: The unexpected death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party–Ajit Pawar (NCPAP) president Ajit Pawar has sparked widespread political speculation over a possible reunification of the two rival factions of the NCP. Senior leaders from the Ajit Pawar-led group, however, have categorically denied that any discussions on a merger are currently taking place.
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, NCP-AP national spokesperson and senior leader Brijmohan Srivastav rejected the speculation, stating that the party has the strength to manage the situation on its own.
“We have a capable leadership which, although it cannot replace the late Ajit Pawar, will be able to consolidate the party and the government even during this challenging period. We will take collective and responsible decisions,” he said.
Srivastav conceded that Pawar’s sudden passing has left a vacuum within the organisation but maintained that the party would recover from the loss and continue to pursue the political vision and agenda set by Ajit Pawar.
Talk of a possible rapprochement between the Ajit Pawar-led NCP-AP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) intensified after both factions contested recent civic body elections together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Their cooperation at the municipal level led to renewed speculation that efforts towards reconciliation were underway.
According to sources in the NCP (SP), talks between the two camps had progressed to an “advanced stage” before the fatal plane crash, with an announcement of a merger reportedly planned for the second week of February, following the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Leaders from the NCP-AP, however, have dismissed these claims outright, describing them as unfounded and speculative.
Within the Sharad Pawarled faction, there is a perception that Ajit Pawar’s demise could pave the way for Sharad Pawar to reassume a central leadership role in the event of reunification. At present, party leaders say their priority remains offering support to the grieving family.
Meanwhile, the ruling NCP-AP is deliberating steps to ensure organisational and governmental continuity.
Initially party sources suggested that Sunetra Pawar, the late leader’s wife, could be considered for the post of Deputy Chief Minister to preserve the family’s political legacy. Even though others believed that senior leader Praful Patel, who has been serving as the party’s working president, should continue to guide the organisation through this transition, Sunetra Pawar took over as Deputy CM in Mumbai on Saturday.
A senior party leader told The Sunday Guardian that “Stability is our immediate concern, both for the party and the government.” Political analysts note that a reunited NCP would emerge as a formidable force, bringing together nine Lok Sabha MPs and a sizeable share of the party’s 51 MLAs.
Such a consolidation could significantly alter the power dynamics, either within the ruling Mahayuti alliance or the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
They add that, despite persistent speculation, both factions presently appear focused on coping with a period of bereavement while continuing to chart their separate political courses.
Notably, Ajit Pawar, along with four others, lost his life earlier last week when a chartered aircraft crashed near Baramati airport in Pune district.
The plane reportedly went down nearly 100 metres from the end of the tabletop runway and caught fire during a second landing attempt amid poor visibility.
The victims included pilots Sumit Kapur and Sambhavi Pathak, Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
The Nationalist Congress Party, founded by Sharad Pawar in 1999, split sharply in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shindeled Mahayuti government and was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.
He retained the position after Devendra Fadnavis assumed office as Chief Minister following the November 2024 Assembly elections.
