NCP leaders express desire that wife of the late Ajit Pawar take on larger role in internal and state politics
Sunetra Pawar campaigns for votes in Pune in the run-up to the state Legislative Assembly election on April 25, 2024. File pic
A section of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders believe that Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, could potentially lead the party and join the state government as deputy chief minister or a minister and one of her sons, Parth and Jay, could be nominated to the Upper House in her place.
According to party sources, it is too early to discuss what’s next for the NCP. But, a mid-rank party leader admitted that a section within the party (informally) was said to be weighing the need for continuity and stability after the leadership vacuum created by the demise of the deputy chief minister.
With the BJP already gearing up for the 2029 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, recent municipal council and corporation polls have shown growing competition among the three Mahayuti partners, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
NCP leader Sunetra Pawar interacts with a child while canvassing for votes in Pune in the run-up to state election in 2024. File pic
Following Ajit’s passing, this battle of open one-upmanship is expected to intensify further, with the BJP likely to see an opportunity to assert itself in western Maharashtra, long considered a stronghold of the Pawar family.
No wonder, with political equations in Maharashtra changing rapidly, all eyes are now on the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and its next steps in selecting leadership and decisions on key posts, including the deputy chief minister and the crucial finance and planning portfolio in the state government.
On Thursday, mid-day shed light on how the BJP was eyeing a crucial finance portfolio as Fadnavis was always keen to keep this ministry with himself, as it plays a crucial role in the development of the state.
Aware of the changing political scenario and need to move swiftly, many within the party believe that Parth or Jay do not have much experience in Maharashtra’s electoral or legislative politics yet, and in such a situation, Sunetra can step in to fill the gap and lead the party at the state level.
“No one other than a Thackeray can lead the Shiv Sena. Similarly, for the NCP, only a Pawar will be accepted at the helm of affairs. It is only a Pawar who can keep the party intact and going. Hence, Sunetra Pawar can be a good replacement in Maharashtra. While one of their sons can be nominated to the Rajya Sabha in her place,” the leader added.
The leader further stated that senior leaders like Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel are already based in Delhi and can guide the new Pawar generation at the national level. He also mentioned that besides Patel and Tatkare, senior leaders from other NCP faction, such as veteran leader Sharad Pawar (Rajya Sabha MP) and his daughter Supriya Sule (Lok Sabha MP from Baramati), also have vast parliamentary experience and could help guide one of Ajit’s sons in navigating politics in Delhi.
Three
No. of seats won by NCP in BMC election
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