01 February,2026 10:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sharad Pawar. Pic/PTI
Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Shashikant Shinde on Saturday said party chief Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders were not informed in advance about Sunetra Pawar being sworn in as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, reported news agency PTI.
Addressing reporters, Shinde said the decision regarding Sunetra Pawar's oath ceremony was taken without the knowledge of Sharad Pawar or the NCP (SP) leadership. He added that discussions on bringing together the two Nationalist Congress Party factions had been underway, particularly after the recently concluded civic elections, but the sudden developments had taken the party by surprise.
Sunetra Pawar, 62, the wife of late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, was sworn in on Saturday as Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister. Ajit Pawar had died in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28, plunging the state's political circles into mourning.
"Sharad Pawar had no prior information about the swearing-in," Shinde said, adding that while several rounds of discussions had taken place on the possible unification of the two NCP factions, the process was still at a deliberative stage. "Ajitdada is no more. Some broad understandings had been discussed earlier. Now we will have to reassess the situation and decide our next steps. How others react to it is their choice," he said, reported PTI.
Responding to questions about the apparent urgency with which Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in was conducted, Shinde said clarity would have to come from her family, senior leaders of the party concerned, or the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues. "Ajit Pawar's demise is a huge loss for Maharashtra. At a time when the state is grieving, we do not know why such a decision was taken. Those involved will have to explain it," he remarked, reported PTI.
Shinde also said that in the three months leading up to Ajit Pawar's January 17 meeting with Sharad Pawar, nearly eight to ten meetings had taken place between leaders of both factions. "After the civic elections, it was decided to seriously work towards unifying the two parties, and this stand was communicated to Sharad Pawar as well," he said.
Referring to a video circulating on social media of the January 17 meeting, Shinde clarified that the discussion was held at Sharad Pawar's residence and not at the home of NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil. He said Ajit Pawar had told those present that he had discussed the issue with the state party president and other leaders and had taken a call accordingly.
According to Shinde, candidates were fielded on the NCP symbol across Maharashtra in the civic polls, with an understanding that a final decision on unification would be taken after the results. He said he was unaware of whether Ajit Pawar faced resistance from senior leaders over the merger plan, reported PTI.
Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, reiterated that he had "no idea" about Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in and said Ajit Pawar had planned to announce the merger of the two factions on February 12. He added that while talks had progressed, the process could now face hurdles following the tragic accident.
Confirming details of the January 17 meeting, Kiran Gujar, a close associate of the Pawar family, said merger discussions were being finalised during that interaction, and Ajit Pawar had briefed him about its outcome a few days later.
(With inputs from PTI)
