NCP consults Maharashtra CM Fadnavis on Deputy CM vacancy after Ajit Pawar's death; Sunetra Pawar's name surfaces

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar lost his life in an airplane crash

• NCP begins consultations to fill Deputy CM post after Ajit Pawar's death
• Legislative party meet likely soon to decide on candidate
• Sunetra Pawar's name discussed internally, no official confirmation yet

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With the Deputy Chief Minister’s post lying vacant following the accidental death of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar, the party has begun internal and external consultations to chart the way forward.

According to a report by The Indian Express, a delegation comprising Rajya Sabha MP and party working president Praful Patel, state unit chief and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare, minister Chhagan Bhujbal, and MLA Dhananjay Munde called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday to discuss the next steps.

Patel said the delegation stressed the need for an early resolution. “Preliminary discussions were held with Devendra Fadnavis today. We told him that a decision needs to be made as soon as possible. We will finalize our stance after speaking with the party’s MLAs; that is all we conveyed to him today. The name of Sunetra Pawar was not discussed in today’s meeting. The decision regarding who will be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister will be taken after consulting our legislators. We will make a decision after understanding everyone’s sentiments,” he has been quoted to say.

Patel also indicated that while urgency was expressed, the party was mindful of the circumstances following Pawar’s demise. He added that the position would be filled at the earliest once the consultation process was complete.

Legislative party meet likely in 1–2 days

Sources within the party said a meeting of the NCP legislative party could be convened within a day or two to arrive at a formal choice for the post. The session is expected to be crucial in gauging the mood of MLAs and consolidating support around a candidate.

NCP chief whip Anil Bhaidas Patil said that no schedule had yet been finalised. “We have yet not finalised the time and date of the meeting. It will be decided after talking to the leadership,” he told The Indian Express.

He acknowledged that some party workers were in favour of a member of the Pawar family being considered for the role, but stressed that the final call rests with the top leadership.

Sunetra Pawar’s name surfaces, no confirmation yet

Within political circles, Sunetra Pawar’s name has emerged as a likely proposal, though there has been no official confirmation from the Pawar family. Patel clarified that her name did not figure in the discussion with the Chief Minister and remains part of internal deliberations.

“We did not discuss Sunetra Pawar’s name [with Fadnavis]; that was an internal discussion of ours. It is our belief -- shared by the public and our MLAs -- that a proper decision must be made. We are still in a period of political mourning, and family rituals are ongoing. We will speak with Sunetra Pawar either tonight or tomorrow, at least after the family ceremonies are concluded,” Patel said.

Party leaders maintain that consultations with legislators and sensitivity to the ongoing mourning period will guide the final decision.