Sunetra Pawar’s swift rise as Maharashtra deputy CM and the questions around Sharad Pawar’s exclusion

Sunetra Pawar’s sudden elevation to the post of deputy chief minister of Maharashtra has sparked intense political discussion across the state. Just three days after the tragic death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash near Baramati airport in Pune district, the 62-year-old leader was sworn in as deputy CM. She has also been named the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislature party, a role that gives her control over the party’s MLAs in the Assembly.

Ajit Pawar was not only a senior leader but also the face of the NCP faction that had aligned with the BJP-led Mahayuti government. His sudden death created a leadership vacuum within the party. Sunetra Pawar’s appointment appears to be a quick move to ensure political continuity and stability, especially at a time when the party is facing uncertainty about its future direction.

Several leaders within the NCP have openly supported Sunetra Pawar’s rise. Veteran leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said there is strong demand within the party for her to take over the responsibilities once held by Ajit Pawar. He stated that party MLAs want her to lead and that such a decision is both natural and justified. Some leaders have even suggested that she should become the next national president of the NCP, another post earlier held by her late husband.

However, the political calm did not last long. Soon after Sunetra’s swearing-in, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) supremo Sharad Pawar made statements that added a new twist to the unfolding story.

Sharad Pawar’s claim and February 12 revelation

Sharad Pawar surprised many by saying that he was not consulted about Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking ceremony. Speaking at a press conference in Baramati, the veteran leader said he was unaware that such a ceremony was scheduled. According to him, there was no discussion with him regarding the appointment, and the decision appeared to have been taken internally by the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP.

Sharad Pawar also made a major revelation by claiming that Ajit Pawar wanted the two NCP factions to reunite. He said his late nephew had already fixed February 12 as the date to announce the merger of the two groups. This statement immediately raised questions about whether Sunetra Pawar’s appointment was rushed and whether it could affect the possibility of reunification.

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Sharad Pawar explained that Ajit had personally given the February 12 date, but the tragic accident changed everything. He suggested that the merger plan was serious and well thought out. If true, this could mean that the party was heading towards unity, with Sharad Pawar possibly regaining overall control of the NCP.

He also indicated that senior leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare may have taken the decision regarding Sunetra’s swearing-in without involving him. This claim has led to speculation about internal differences and trust issues within the broader NCP family.

Party response and political implications

The claims made by Sharad Pawar were quickly challenged by leaders from the Ajit Pawar faction. Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Dattatray Tatkare rejected the suggestion that talks of reunification had reached such an advanced stage. He clarified that a meeting between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar on January 17 was being misinterpreted.

According to Tatkare, the meeting was informal and took place after an agricultural exhibition in Baramati. He said it was merely a tea gathering and that the discussion focused on agriculture-related issues. Tatkare also stressed that any understanding between the two factions was limited to local body elections. He pointed out that both factions had come together only for municipal corporation polls in areas like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Despite these denials, political observers believe Sharad Pawar’s statements carry weight. Many feel that if the two factions reunite now that Ajit Pawar is no longer there, the balance of power would shift back to Sharad Pawar. This possibility has made several leaders uneasy, especially those who supported Ajit Pawar during the party split in 2023. They fear they could be sidelined if Sharad Pawar’s loyalists regain dominance.

Another major question is the future of the NCP’s alliance with the Mahayuti, which includes the BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. A reunified NCP under Sharad Pawar could choose to exit the alliance and instead move closer to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Such a move would significantly alter Maharashtra’s political equations.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has so far taken a neutral stand. He has said that the BJP would respect whatever decision the NCP takes internally. After Sunetra Pawar was named legislature party leader, a group of NCP leaders met Fadnavis and handed him a formal letter confirming her appointment. The chief minister then forwarded the letter to Governor Acharya Devvrat, paving the way for her swearing-in.

Meanwhile, reactions from the opposition have been mixed. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of pushing for a hurried oath-taking ceremony. He suggested that the speed of events raised doubts about political intentions behind Sunetra Pawar’s appointment.

For now, Sunetra Pawar stands at the centre of Maharashtra politics, carrying the legacy of her late husband while navigating complex party dynamics. Whether her role is temporary or marks the beginning of a long leadership journey will depend on how the NCP resolves its internal divisions in the coming weeks.