After Ajit Pawar’s Death, NCP Leaders Reveal Late Deputy CM’s Plans for Party Merger

Mumbai, January 30, 2026: Following the sudden demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, a wave of grief has swept through the state’s political, social, and economic spheres. Amid discussions over his successor, senior leaders from the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP have revealed that Ajit Pawar had been preparing to announce the formal merger of both NCP factions after the conclusion of the district council elections.

Sources indicate that Ajit Pawar had set February 8, 2026, as the date to finalize the merger, a plan cut short by his untimely death. Following his passing, Sunetra Pawar, his wife, is being considered as his political successor, while talks of uniting the two NCP factions continue.

Merger Preparations Underway:
According to reports, discussions for the merger had progressed significantly. Leaders from both factions were preparing to lay the groundwork for a formal reunification after the district council election results. Late on Wednesday night, senior NCP leaders who had come to Baramati to pay tribute to Ajit Pawar reportedly held a meeting to discuss the urgency of continuing the merger talks amid the changing political situation. Sources added that the proposed reunification was intended to bring the Sharad Pawar-led faction into government participation, bridging the gap between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the faction aligned with the BJP-backed government where Ajit Pawar served as Deputy CM.

Ajit Pawar’s Role as a Key Link:
Ajit Pawar had been a crucial link between the two NCP factions and played a leading role in reopening channels of communication with Sharad Pawar’s group. Legislators Jayant Patil (NCP SP) and Shashikant Shinde, head of the Maharashtra unit, confirmed that merger discussions had advanced to the point where informal plans for a potential cabinet reshuffle and inclusion of new faces were under consideration.

Joint Election Experience:
Earlier, during the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, Ajit Pawar had collaborated with Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP to contest the polls. Senior leaders noted that Supriya Sule had also shared the stage with Ajit Pawar during these municipal elections, marking a political rapprochement after a long period.

Shashikant Shinde emphasized that the merger discussions were following the prior mutual agreement between the factions, and while Ajit Pawar’s death may cause some delay, the process is expected to continue.