The untimely death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has left a sudden power vacuum in the party, which its leaders are keen to fill at the earliest. Senior NCP minister Narhari Zirwal has already raised the demand of elevating Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister in place of her deceased husband.
Zirwal, who was very close to Ajit Pawar and also shares a good relationship with Sharad Pawar, said the late NCP leader was spearheading talks over the merger of both NCP factions, which were in the final stages.
“All of us from both the NCPs feel that we should now come together if we want to remain a major party and political force in the state. We cannot afford to stay separate. We also feel that Sunetra Pawar should be made Deputy Chief Minister in place of Ajit Dada,” Zirwal added.
Sources said it has been proposed that Sunetra Pawar, who is a Rajya Sabha member, should resign and contest the byelection for the Baramati assembly seat.
“In that case, Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s elder son, will be nominated to the Rajya Sabha in place of his mother. The majority of NCP leaders are fine with this arrangement to keep the flock together. The BJP will also be fine with it as the party's state unit on Thursday published a full page ad on the front page of vernacular newspapers as a homage to Ajit Pawar. This shows that in the absence of Ajit Pawar, the BJP leadership has decided to take ownership of the NCP and its well-being for now. They cannot afford the fragmentation of the NCP because that secular and progressive space can be occupied by the Congress if its leadership is smart enough,” said a senior leader who requested anonymity.
He added, “Besides, for Ajit Pawar’s final rites, most BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Nitin Gadkari, BJP Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Union minister for state Raksha Khadse, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and his entire cabinet were present, while there was a conspicuous absence of the top leadership of the Congress.”
Former minister Rajesh Tope, who is part of the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar, confirmed that talks between both NCPs were at an advanced stage, noting that both jointly contested the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation polls and are also contesting the district panchayat election on the NCP’s clock symbol.
“Now, in the absence of Ajit Dada, Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar should take the lead and merge both NCPs in the larger interest of party workers,” the NCP SP leader said.
Sources said that Sharad Pawar has already given consent for the NCP’s merger. “Sharad Pawar is not in a position to rekindle the cadre and put up a fight against the BJP. Besides, no one from either NCP faction wants to sit in opposition. They want to continue to share power in the state and Centre, therefore, another deal with the BJP is likely to take place, ahead of the merger of both NCPs,” said a senior NCP leader who requested anonymity.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, strongly reacting to the Maharashtra BJP’s full page advertisement for Ajit Pawar, said the BJP should first rescind the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam allegation against the deceased leader and clear his name, which will be a real tribute to his soul.
