NCP Set for Reunion After Ajit Pawar’s Death, Merger Likely in Feb

• NCP factions to formally reunite after local body polls
• Ajit Pawar had paved way with meetings with Sharad Pawar
• Sunetra Pawar, Supriya Sule, Praful Patel seen as key contenders
• Formal announcement likely in second week of February

GG News Bureau
Pune, 30th Jan: The two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are set to reunite, with a formal announcement expected in the second week of February, after the completion of local body elections, sources said.

According to senior leaders from both factions, late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had paved the way for the merger and held several meetings with his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar in December and January. The two leaders were scheduled to formally announce the reunion through a joint press conference after the elections.

Sources said leaders from both sides are expected to meet next week to finalise the merger process. However, some leaders from the Ajit Pawar faction are said to be hesitant about an immediate merger, claiming it could be used for “political gain”, while the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) is pushing for an early reunification.

Sunetra Pawar’s role is being seen as crucial in the merger process, sources added.

Leadership of the merged NCP is also under discussion. Apart from Sharad Pawar, three frontrunners are being considered — Sunetra Pawar, Supriya Sule and Praful Patel. Sources said there is growing support within the party for Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP, to take over as party president and legislative party leader. If that does not materialise due to technical or political considerations, Praful Patel is being seen as the next likely choice.

Sharad Pawar founded the NCP in 1999 after splitting from the Congress. In July 2023, Ajit Pawar led a rebellion, taking a section of MLAs to join the BJP-led Mahayuti government, triggering a split in the party. Several senior leaders, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse-Patil, had joined Ajit Pawar’s camp.

Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on Wednesday when their chartered Learjet 45 crashed near the tabletop runway at Baramati airport in Pune district during a second landing attempt amid poor visibility.

Recalling his last efforts, NCP leader Ankush Kakade said Ajit Pawar had wanted to merge the two factions as a “gift” to Sharad Pawar on his birthday on December 12, though the move did not materialise then. Senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil also confirmed that Ajit Pawar had pushed strongly for a reunion and held high-level meetings on January 16 and 17 to advance the process.