NCP merger Ajit Pawar's last wish? Speculation runs deep as leaders hold meeting with CM Fadnavis

Ajit Pawar

• Ajit Pawar's death sparks talks of NCP reunification in Maharashtra
• NCP factions may merge, fulfilling Ajit Pawar's reported last wish
• Cabinet reshuffle likely as Ajit Pawar's portfolios remain vacant

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Speculation around a possible reunification of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has intensified following the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday, with many people reportedly describing the move as the late leader’s “last wish”, News18 reported.

Ajit Pawar led one faction of the NCP that was part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra alongside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. The rival NCP faction, headed by Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule, currently sits in the opposition with the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

During the recently concluded civic body elections, the two NCP factions had come together to contest as allies. Around that time, Ajit Pawar had reportedly told a small group of journalists that he wanted to merge his party with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) while his uncle, now 85, was still in good health.

After jointly contesting the January 15 municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the two factions agreed to extend their alliance for the upcoming Zilla Parishad polls scheduled for next month, further fuelling merger talk.

Ajit Pawar had been handling several crucial portfolios in the state government, including Finance, Planning and State Excise, along with additional responsibility for Sports and Youth Welfare and Minority Development. These departments are currently vacant, and his death is expected to trigger a cabinet reshuffle.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar is likely to demand retention of the departments previously held by him, arguing that these portfolios were allocated under the party’s share in the ruling coalition. Party leaders are expected to formally communicate their position to Chief Minister Fadnavis, possibly by late Friday or Saturday.

Senior NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Dhananjay Munde met the chief minister at Varsha Bungalow on Friday. NCP leader Praful Patel confirmed that the discussions centred on the future of Ajit Pawar’s ministerial responsibilities. “We will take a decision on the merger of the NCP factions soon. We met the CM. We will also discuss with Ajit Pawar’s family," Patel said.

Separately, Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan also held a meeting at Varsha Bungalow late Thursday night, signalling that key political decisions are imminent as Maharashtra navigates the aftermath of Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise.