In the aftermath of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise in a plane crash, senior NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil disclosed that the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party were nearing a formal merger. This move, according to Patil, was not merely a political tactic but also Ajit Pawar’s final wish to eliminate the party’s division while Sharad Pawar remains active in politics.
Confirming Sharad Pawar’s earlier statements in Baramati, Patil mentioned that the merger was close to being finalized and was set for an official announcement on February 12. He revealed that Ajit Pawar had informed key party figures about the merger plans, expressing a strong desire for the unity of the NCP family.
Patil shared that numerous high-level meetings were conducted over the past four months to discuss the merger, with a focus on contesting the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections under a single symbol—the Clock. Ajit Pawar’s vision included testing a unified front at the local level before the formal merger, with an aim to bring the NCP family back together.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic plane crash that disrupted the merger process, Patil emphasized that Ajit Pawar’s demise had halted a significant political transformation in Maharashtra. Despite talks of reunification, the Ajit Pawar faction is proceeding with administrative changes, with Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife, set to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister to ensure the faction’s stability within the Mahayuti government.
While leaders like Jayant Patil have been open about the merger discussions, the Ajit Pawar-led faction has maintained silence. Senior figures Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal have refrained from commenting on the merger, prioritizing filling the leadership void and supporting the Pawar family during this period of mourning.
