Will support NCP decision, says Fadnavis as Sunetra Pawar to take oath as Maharashtra deputy CM on Saturday

Following the death of NCP leader and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash, his wife Sunetra Pawar is all set to take oath as the state’s first deputy chief minister.

According to a report, the NCP will hold the legislature party meeting on Saturday to elect Sunetra Pawar as the new legislative party leader.

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Later in the day, she will take oath as the new deputy CM in a hurried swearing-in ceremony. Sunetra currently holds the post of Rajya Sabha MP.

“The legislature party meeting has been convened on Saturday to elect a new leader on Saturday,” State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare confirmed.

Earlier today, a delegation of NCP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP and party working president Praful Patel, NCP state chief and Lok Sabha MP Sunil Tatkare, minister Chhagan Bhujbal and MLA Dhananjay Munde, Friday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the early allocations of portfolios held by Ajit Pawar.

Will support NCP decision, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the decision on deputy CM will be taken by the NCP. He said that he will support the decision taken by the party.

“The decision will be taken by the NCP. We will stand by whatever decision the NCP takes…We are standing by the family of Ajit Pawar and NCP…,” Fadnavis told reporters.

NCP merger talks gain traction

Following Ajit Oawar’s sudden demise, the talks of NCP merger have also gained traction with a senior NCP-SCP leader claiming that a decision had already been made by Ajit Pawar regarding this.

Senior NCP(SCP) and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmuk, while speaking to reporters in Mumbai today, said that it was decided that after the municipal elections, by January 20th, the declaration would be made, and both parties would unite.

However, due to the sudden district council elections, the decision was postponed, and it was expected to happen around February 10th.

Deshmukh said that Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar’s family, including wife Sunetra and sons Parth and Jay Pawar will sit together to finalise the merger.