Maharashtra

Mumbai:The possibility of a merger between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appears uncertain for the time being, with the Ajit Pawar faction unwilling to take an immediate call, even as the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) presses for swift unification. The debate over reunification gained momentum following the tragic death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, triggering renewed political churn within the party. However, party insiders indicate that a final decision on the merger has been deferred due to unresolved leadership concerns. Leadership Question at the Core Sources within the Ajit Pawar faction suggest that the group wants Sunetra Pawar to first consolidate her hold within the party before any merger talks progress. ...

Mumbai | 30 Jan 2026 Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday strongly criticized discussions over the successor of late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, calling it “inhumane” to raise such issues while the family is still mourning. Pawar tragically died in a plane crash on the morning of 28 January near Baramati, Pune district, along with four others. His funeral, held on Thursday in Baramati, saw a large gathering as locals bid tearful farewell to the senior NCP leader. Raut said, “Raising questions about Ajit Dada’s successor immediately after his death shows a lack of humanity. Whether ministers or MLAs, those who are discussing leadership succession have no sensitivity. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, is still grieving the loss of her husband.” ...

Mumbai | 30 Jan 2026 :Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) working president Praful Patel on Friday stated that there is no opposition to late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, assuming the position of NCP legislature party leader. He added, however, that the family’s consent will be sought before formally filling the key post. Patel said the immediate priority is to fill the vacant positions of Deputy Chief Minister and NCP legislature party leader, both of which were held by Ajit Pawar at the time of his death. He clarified that appointments to the top organizational position, previously held by the late leader as party president, are not under consideration at this stage. Speaking to reporters, Patel noted that party leaders have met Chief Minister De...

In a shocking incident that has intensified political tensions in Maharashtra, a group of nearly 12 masked men allegedly attempted to abduct 20 newly elected Congress corporators from the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation on Thursday morning. The incident occurred near a toll plaza in Wardha district, at a time when political manoeuvring over the Chandrapur mayoral election has reached a critical stage. According to police sources, the corporators were travelling in a bus to Nagpur, where they were scheduled to complete group registration formalities at the Divisional Commissioner’s office. Congress has emerged as the single largest party in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation but has fallen short of an absolute majority, making every corporator politically crucial. Corporators Re...