'Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that': Sharad Pawar on NCP merger buzz

Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.

Days after Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister and nephew Ajit Pawar's death, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar on Saturday indicated that the process to merge the two factions of NCP, which was slated for February 12, has halted following his death.

He suggested that leaders from the Ajit Pawar camp are no longer keen on the merger despite his own party’s willingness, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

Earlier, there were reports that Ajit Pawar wanted to give a 'gift' of reunion to uncle Sharad Pawar on his birthday (December 12), but the merger did not materialise at the time.

According to NCP (SP) leader Ankush Kakade, Ajit Pawar had urged him and other senior leaders including Vitthal Sheth Maniar and Srinivas Patil - who share a close bond with the senior Pawar - to facilitate a reconciliation.

Now, speaking at a press conference, his first amid the rapidly unfolding political developments after Ajit Pawar’s demise, Sharad Pawar said the merger talks, which had been underway for four months, have been interrupted, creating uncertainty about the party’s future direction.

"Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled. Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated the talks about the merger of the two factions. Even the merger date had been fixed - it was scheduled on February 12. Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that," Sharad Pawar said, according to a report by The Times of India.

Sharad Pawar added that there had been a shared desire for unity, “Our desire is also that the two sides should come together.”

This disclosure comes amid intense political activity in Maharashtra following Ajit Pawar's death and reports that his wife, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, is set to be sworn in as the deputy chief minister.

Sharad Pawar, however, maintained that he had no prior information about her possible elevation, underlining that key decisions were being taken by leaders in Mumbai and not in consultation with him.

VIDEO | As Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar is likely to be sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, replacing her late husband and NCP chief Ajit Pawar in the state cabinet, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said, "...The party must have decided it."

(Full video available on PTI… pic.twitter.com/gEVKA2dnot — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 31, 2026

In July 2023, the NCP split into two factions after Ajit Pawar walked out of his party, breaking from his uncle's side to carve his own path in the political history of the state.