The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is showing strong resistance to relinquishing the Deputy Chief Minister’s post in Maharashtra following the sudden demise of party president and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
Senior leaders within the party are increasingly rallying behind the proposal to appoint Sunetra Pawar as the new NCP president and leader of its legislative wing.
Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and the late Ajit Pawar’s spouse, has emerged as the consensus choice among influential party figures.
If the party formally names her as legislative leader, she would become the only contender for the Deputy Chief Minister’s position in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
At a high-level meeting held on Wednesday night, several senior leaders openly backed her elevation.
They argued that appointing Sunetra Pawar would ensure continuity of Ajit Pawar’s leadership and preserve the Pawar family’s central role within the party.
However, party sources clarified that the organisation remains in mourning and has not reached a final resolution.
Pawar Legacy Takes Centre
Despite operating as separate entities, leaders from the NCP faction have begun informal consultations with party founder Sharad Pawar.
Maharashtra minister Narhari Zirwal publicly supported Sunetra Pawar’s appointment, stating that it would safeguard the Pawar family’s political legacy.
Ajit Pawar, who managed the Finance portfolio, wielded significant influence within coalition governments.
While critics questioned his fund allocation practices, his authority over finances gave the NCP leverage across departments.
With the Finance Ministry expected to shift to another ally, party leaders see retaining the Deputy CM post as essential to maintaining relevance.
Currently, no NCP member of the Pawar family sits in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Sunetra Pawar serves in the Rajya Sabha, while Ajit Pawar’s sons remain outside electoral politics.
Across the family divide, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule holds a Lok Sabha seat, and Rohit Pawar is the sole MLA.
Insiders say the immediate challenge lies in preserving organisational control and protecting broader political and industrial interests historically managed by Ajit Pawar.
They stress that Sharad Pawar’s role as the family’s unifying figure will be decisive.
Party observers caution that the decision carries implications beyond the NCP, warning that missteps could trigger wider political consequences across Maharashtra.
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