New Delhi: Several senior NCP leaders backed Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar to take over as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra. They urged the widow of Pawar to return to state politics and take forward the legacy left behind by her husband, who died in a tragic plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday. Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha MP, but several NCP functionaries want her to take over the reigns of the party following the demise of their leader, Ajit Pawar.
NCP urges Sunetra Pawar to join Mahayuti government
Senior NCP leaders met Sunetra Pawar at her residence offering their condolences, and urging her to join the Mashayuti government. The leaders present at the meeting were NCP’s working president Praful Patel, state chief Sunil Tatkare and Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
NCP’s Narhari Zirwal publicly backed the move to make Sunetra Pawar the leader of the party. He was quoted by Times of India as saying, “All supporters I have spoken to want Sunetra vahini (sister-in-law) in the state cabinet. I support this view.” THe leader, who was a close confidant of Ajit Pawar, also said that he would raise this issue with senior party leaders soon.
According to party sources, a meeting may soon be held in Mumbai, to choose the legislative party leader of NCPO, following Ajit Pawar’s death.
Meanwhile, the grassroot party workers in Baramati, want the sons of Ajit Pawar – either Parth or Jay to contest the bypoll and take over the reigns of the party and carry forward their father’s legacy.
‘Sunetra will keep NCP united’: Party leaders
Some party leaders said that only Sunetra can keep the party together. He said that the NCP is inseparable from the Pawar party. Till now, either Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar or Supriya Sule have led the party from the forefront. Now with the death of Ajit, many leaders feel that Sunetra Pawar should step forward to take over the party reins.
However several party leaders remained guarded in their response. They are waiting to see if after Ajit’s demise, his uncle Sharad Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule move forward to reunite the party. It is this possibility, which is making several senior leaders reluctant to openly declare their positions.
However, it is unlikely that Sunetra Pawar would stop feeling the pressure to return to state politics. Earlier, Ajit Pawar had given strong indications that he was preparing both his sons for a political debut. He had given indications of stepping aside in Baramati and giving his son, Jay a larger role. In fact Jay even held meetings with local units, during the 2024 polls. Meanwhile, the elder son of Ajit, Parth contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, from Maval. He however lost the elections.