Sharad Pawar Breaks Silence on Sunetra Pawar’s Appointment as Maharashtra Deputy CM

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday broke his silence on the reported oath-taking of Sunetra Pawar as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, stating that the decision was taken independently by her party and that he was neither consulted nor informed.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Sharad Pawar said he had no prior knowledge of Sunetra Pawar’s elevation and learned about the developments only through media reports. He clarified that the leadership of his faction and members of the Pawar family were not involved in any discussions related to her appointment in the BJP-led Mahayuti government.

“I have no information about it. Her party must have taken the decision. I read in newspapers that some leaders have taken the initiative, but there was no discussion with me. I am not even aware whether it is happening,” Sharad Pawar said.

Sunetra Pawar’s likely induction into the Maharashtra cabinet comes days after the sudden death of her husband and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash while attempting to land at Baramati airport earlier this week. The tragedy has triggered intense political churn within the Nationalist Congress Party and its splinter factions.

Sharad Pawar also addressed reports of a possible reunification of the two NCP factions, revealing that talks had been underway for the past four months but have now been suspended following Ajit Pawar’s demise. He said the merger process had reached an advanced stage, with senior leaders from both sides holding negotiations and even fixing a tentative date.

“Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated talks regarding the merger of the two factions. February 12 had been finalised as the date. Unfortunately, Ajit Pawar passed away before that could happen,” he said, adding that discussions have been put on hold out of respect for the situation.

The Nationalist Congress Party split in July 2023 when Ajit Pawar led a vertical split, taking more than 40 MLAs to join the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Sharad Pawar subsequently renamed his faction the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar, while Ajit Pawar retained control of the original party name and symbol.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Mahayuti alliance would fully support the NCP’s decision on filling the vacant Deputy Chief Minister post. He emphasised that the choice rests solely with Ajit Pawar’s party.

“The decision will be taken by the NCP, and we will support whatever decision they take. We are standing firmly with Ajit Pawar’s family and the party,” Fadnavis said.

Sunetra Pawar, currently a Rajya Sabha member, is expected to be elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party at a meeting in Mumbai before formally taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister. She is not a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly or Council, making her elevation politically significant and historic.

Ajit Pawar’s last rites were performed with full state honours in Baramati on Thursday, attended by senior political leaders, union ministers and prominent public figures, marking the end of an era in Maharashtra politics and the beginning of a delicate transition within the NCP.