Succession talks in NCP: Sunetra Pawar emerges as key contender

Amid speculation over the future leadership of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, reports citing sources have indicated that the party is considering proposing his wife, Sunetra Pawar, for the post of deputy chief minister.

Senior NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dhananjay Munde and Sunil Tatkare, have reportedly met Sunetra Pawar as part of internal consultations in the aftermath of Ajit Pawar’s death. Patel, the party’s working president, is expected to play a key role in guiding the organisation through the transition.

Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha member of the NCP. The party is a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, alongside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Fueling the speculation, senior NCP leader and state Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal, a close associate of Ajit Pawar, told a news agency that Sunetra Pawar is likely to join the state cabinet soon. The party is also expected to field her from the seat vacated by her late husband.

“People want ‘vahini (sister-in-law) to be included in the ministry. We will discuss this with the leadership and take a decision,” Zirwal reportedly said.

According to party sources, the proposal to induct Sunetra Pawar into the state ministry and consider her for the deputy chief minister’s post is likely to be taken up in a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

There is also growing discussion within the party about Praful Patel potentially taking over as NCP president. Party leaders are expected to raise the matter with the chief minister. In addition, talks are reportedly underway about a possible reunification of the NCP with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) faction.

Commenting on the prospects of the two factions coming together, Zirwal said, “The two factions are already together. Everyone has realised there is no point in remaining divided and that we need to be united.”

Ajit Pawar and four others were killed when the aircraft they were travelling in crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of a tabletop airstrip earlier this week.