PUNE: NCP chief Ajit Pawar‘s sudden death has complicated the possible merger of the two NCP groups, which was imminent after the Feb 5 zilla parishad elections in Maharashtra.Members of both NCP groups are united in grief but, considering the political dynamics in the state, where NCP groups are in rival camps, a consensus on uniting in the absence of the man who was the driving force behind the merger appears difficult.
The 2023 split in the party divided the Pawar family; the tragedy on Wednesday has brought them together. Still, when it comes to NCP’s merger, it will all depend on the political stand the members adopt- either to continue with Mahayuti, as a partner with BJP in the state, or go with Congress and Sena (UBT) as an MVA member.A senior NCP functionary and close associate of Ajit Pawar told TOI, “Talk of a reunion was limited to Pawar family members. They were still working out a strategy to involve other senior members from both sides to take the proposal forward. Due to Ajit Pawar’s death, the reunion process is likely to stop for some time, till the NCP finds its new chief.”For decades Ajit Pawar was seen as the inheritor of the party his uncle, veteran politician Sharad Pawar, founded. With him gone, political observers said his wife, Rajya Sabha member Sunetra, could be the choice to lead the party, at least for a while given the strong emotions of party workers attached to Ajit Pawar.
