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Sharad Pawar also claimed that the reunification of the two NCP factions was a long-held wish of Ajit Pawar and talks to bring the party back together had been underway for months
(Left) Sunetra Pawar and (right) Sharad Pawar (PTI)
Veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Saturday said there had been no discussion with Sunetra Pawar, wife of Ajit Pawar, over her likely oath-taking as the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, but termed it an internal decision of her faction.
Speaking in Baramati, Sharad Pawar said they were unaware that the oath-taking event was planned. However, he noted that Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare were senior leaders of their own NCP faction and it was their party’s right to decide the future course of action.
He also claimed that the reunification of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions was a long-held wish of Ajit Pawar—Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister who passed away in a plane crash on Wednesday—and that talks to bring the party back together had been underway for months.
“It was Ajit Dada’s wish that the two NCP factions should come together. We also desire that his wish be fulfilled.” He said Ajit Pawar and senior leader Jayant Patil had been engaged in reunification talks for the past four months and “the talks were positive”. “Ajit Pawar wanted to announce the merger on February 12. This was his wish,” Sharad Pawar added.
Sharad Pawar’s statement lends credence to the buzz around the reunification effort that had been quietly gaining traction before Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise in a plane crash near Baramati. However, his passing has now thrown the possible merger into uncertainty.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the ruling Mahayuti has decided to offer the deputy chief minister’s post to Sunetra Pawar amid merger buzz. There is a belief within political circles that some senior leaders close to Ajit Pawar were not keen on Sharad Pawar regaining control of the party. It remains unclear whether Sharad Pawar or Supriya Sule will attend Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking ceremony for the deputy CM’s post.
January 31, 2026, 10:10 IST
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