Speculation rife on Pawar family reunion

The decision to reunite the Pawar family rests with Sharad Pawar.

New Delhi: After the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which gave a huge mandate to the ruling Mahayuti alliance and sidelined the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), calls for a family reunion have sparked heated discussions, with the idea of merging the two factions of the party.

In the aftermath of last year’s elections, Ajit Pawar’s faction secured 41 seats, while Sharad Pawar’s camp managed only 10. Ajit Pawar, who is the nephew of the veteran Sharad Pawar, has increasingly emerged as a dominant figure in Maratha politics, outgrowing the shadow of his uncle.

The calls for a Pawar family reunion were initially given by Ajit Pawar’s mother, Ashatai Pawar, who, after a temple visit in Pune on New Year’s Day, expressed hope for a reconciliation between her son and brother-in-law.

“I prayed for the reunion of Ajit and his uncle. All disputes should end,” she remarked, a sentiment that was quickly echoed by Praful Patel, a key figure in the Ajit faction.
Patel referred to Sharad Pawar as a “father figure” and emphasised the happiness a reunion would bring.

Since then, the political circles in Maharashtra have been abuzz with speculation about the possibility of the NCP reuniting, although Sharad Pawar and his daughter, MP Supriya Sule, have remained silent on the matter.

The call for a Pawar family reunion was initially given by Ajit Pawar’s mother, Ashatai Pawar, who, after a temple visit in Pune on New Year’s Day, expressed hope for a reconciliation between her son and brother-in-law. 

Anil Deshmukh, a prominent NCP (SP) leader and former home minister of Maharashtra, told The Sunday Guardian that the push for unity was coming from Ajit Pawar’s side.

“There is no such discussion with us regarding a merger”, said Deshmukh further emphasising that Sharad Pawar is unlikely to consider a merger under the current circumstances.

This is not the first time the idea of a reunion has surfaced in Maharashtra politics. The idea gained momentum in December 2024 after Ajit Pawar and his wife, Sunetra, along with Praful Patel, visited Sharad Pawar at his Delhi residence to wish him on his 84th birthday.

Speculation about a potential reunion grew following this meeting. A week later, Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and presented him with a box of pomegranates.

Despite the growing political heat surrounding the potential reunion, the ultimate decision rests with Sharad Pawar. The question now is whether the octogenarian leader is willing to overlook the betrayal by his nephew—who split the party and aligned with the BJP— or if he will continue to stand firm and fight until the end.