Amid controversy, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has called for a CBI investigation into the death of former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28. The NCP delegation, led by State President Sunil Tatkare, met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to submit a memorandum demanding the probe. The party raised concerns over irregularities and suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, including changes to the flight crew and issues with safety warning systems.
The NCP emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into the incident, pointing out various factors that require scrutiny, such as crew fitness, maintenance compliance, and aircraft system performance. Union Ministers Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Murlidhar Mohol were reportedly present on the day of the crash. The demand for a CBI probe comes in light of claims by NCP SP legislator Rohit Pawar suggesting sabotage as the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, NCP legislator Amol Mitkari, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, and party deputy leader Sushma Andhare have also questioned whether the crash was accidental or a deliberate act of sabotage. The NCP has expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing probe and the lack of a preliminary report. In a separate development, NCP State President Sunil Tatkare discussed the upcoming elections with BJP State President Ravindra Chavan, focusing on collaboration within the ‘Mahayuti’ alliance.
Addressing rumors of internal discord within the party, Tatkare clarified that there were no discussions about “disgruntled MLAs” during a recent party meeting. He affirmed the unity of the NCP legislative party and the state unit, emphasizing support for Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s leadership. Tatkare highlighted the party’s commitment to strengthening its organizational structure and working closely with all allies.
