NCP merger talks stall after Ajit Pawar’s death in Baramati crash

Sunetra Pawar takes oath as deputy CM, four days after Ajit Pawar’s death. Pic/Ashish Raje

Leaders from the two NCP factions took indirect digs at each other on Tuesday, exposing growing internal tensions. NCP, Sharad Pawar faction, MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that Sunetra Pawar was made to take oath as Maharashtra's deputy chief minister against her wishes, in haste, just four days after the plane crash in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on January 28.

Rohit's remarks are being seen as a veiled attack on leaders close to the late Ajit Pawar, who are allegedly accused of opposing a merger of the two NCP factions. Stung by the comments, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP hit back with an indirect counter. State NCP president Sunil Tatkare questioned why some leaders began speaking about a merger between the two factions on the very day of the plane crash.

Before Ajit Pawar's demise, the two NCP factions had come together for the local body elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, fuelling speculation about a formal merger. However, before talks could progress, Ajit Pawar died in the Baramati crash.

Following the incident, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar had said that the two factions were set to reunite, with an official announcement expected today. Rohit Pawar has postponed a press conference, where he is expected to elaborate on the proposed merger. In a social media post, he said his priority was to focus on the plane crash investigation.

Delhi visit

Meanwhile, Sunetra was in Delhi on Wednesday, where she is said to have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. She was accompanied by her sons, Parth and Jay, and senior NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. Sunetra is expected to return to Pune to attend a district planning and development committee (DPDC) meeting, likely today. She is the guardian minister of Pune and Beed, districts previously overseen by the late Ajit Pawar.