Pune, January 30, 2026: Following the sudden death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are moving swiftly to fill the political vacuum within the party. A top delegation recently met Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife and a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, at her Pune residence to pay respects and discuss her potential return to active politics. Party leaders have reportedly suggested including her in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government as Deputy Chief Minister.
The delegation included prominent NCP figures such as Executive President Praful Patel, Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare, and Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Senior leaders believe Sunetra Pawar, who hails from a political family herself, could help unite the party and maintain stability after Ajit Pawar’s sudden passing.
Support for Sunetra Pawar:
Several senior leaders and grassroots workers are backing the idea of Sunetra Pawar stepping into her late husband’s political role. Nariman Jirwal, a senior party leader, has publicly endorsed her inclusion in the state cabinet, stating that all supporters desire her presence in the government. Party sources suggest a meeting of NCP legislators in Mumbai may soon be called to select a new leader of the legislative party, with stability and consolidation of government power being the top priority.
Baramati By-Election: Pawar Family Member Expected to Contest
Within party ranks, there is also growing demand that one of Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth or Jai Pawar, contest the Baramati by-election, a seat now vacant following Ajit Pawar’s death. Local leaders believe a Pawar family member would almost certainly secure a win, maintaining the party’s stronghold. Ajit Pawar had previously indicated that he intended to pass Baramati leadership to his son Jai Pawar, who actively engaged with local units during the 2024 elections. Meanwhile, elder son Parth Pawar contested the Maval Lok Sabha seat in 2019 but lost.
The Pawar Family’s Role in NCP Politics:
The NCP’s identity has long been intertwined with the Pawar family, revolving around Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, and Supriya Sule. Senior leaders and party workers now widely believe that only Sunetra Pawar can fill Ajit Pawar’s political void, as she represents both the family’s legacy and political acumen. However, some senior leaders remain cautious, closely monitoring whether the two NCP factions—led by Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule—will reunite, as any merger could significantly reshape Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Ajit Pawar had split from Sharad Pawar’s group in July 2023, joining the BJP-backed government as Deputy Chief Minister along with a large group of legislators. The reunification of factions could further alter the balance of power, prompting ministers to refrain from taking public positions for now.