‘I have no information’: Sharad Pawar claims he learnt Sunetra Pawar oath reports from newspapers

Sharad Pawar says reunification talks between the two NCP factions had progressed for months but were halted after Ajit Pawar’s death, even as uncertainty swirls over Sunetra Pawar’s political role.

• Merger talks between NCP factions paused after Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash
• Sharad Pawar confirms discussions but says leadership decisions now on hold
• Uncertainty grows in Maharashtra politics with no clarity on NCP succession

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Senior leader Sharad Pawar on Friday said discussions to reunite the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party had been underway for the past four months but have now been put on hold following the death of his nephew Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this week.

The remarks come amid political uncertainty in Maharashtra, with speculation swirling over whether Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, could be sworn in as deputy chief minister.

‘I have no information’

Sharad Pawar said he had no knowledge of any decision regarding Sunetra Pawar taking oath.

“I have no information about it. Her party must have decided,” he said, adding that he had neither been consulted nor briefed on any such move. Pawar said he only learnt of the reports through newspapers, which mentioned leaders such as Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare as taking the initiative.

“I had no discussion on this. I am not even aware if it is happening,” he said.

Backchannel talks confirmed

For the first time, Pawar senior confirmed that merger talks between the rival NCP factions had progressed beyond informal signalling. He said while he was not personally involved, discussions were held between Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar.

“These talks were going on for the past four months. It is still our desire that the two sides should come together,” Sharad Pawar said.

Ajit Pawar’s timeline

According to Pawar, Ajit Pawar was keen that the merger be finalised by February 12, a date that now appears unlikely given the current circumstances.

“After this tragedy, everything has been put on hold,” he said, signalling that both political negotiations and leadership decisions would be deferred.

Political stakes for Maharashtra

Ajit Pawar’s sudden death has left a vacuum in Maharashtra politics, particularly within the NCP, which remains split between the Sharad Pawar-led faction and the Ajit Pawar-led group that was part of the ruling coalition.

With merger talks paused and no clarity on succession or government appointments, the episode adds another layer of uncertainty to an already fluid political landscape in the state.