NCP leaders meet Fadnavis claiming Ajit Pawar portfolios; Sunetra Pawar likely to get Deputy CM post

Senior leaders of the late Ajit Pawar-led NCP met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday and staked claim to key ministerial berths like finance, state excise, and sports, and indicated that they will submit a formal letter demanding these portfolios soon.

Senior NCP leaders, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal, arrived at Fadnavis’s official ‘Varsha’ bungalow in South Mumbai, where they held discussions for at least an hour on Friday.

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After the meeting, senior Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Praful Patel told media persons that the party wants to fill the post as soon as possible. “We are partners in the Mahayuti alliance. So, we have to take the right decision to fill the post held by Ajit Pawar as soon as possible. At the same time, I want to clarify that we need to consider public sentiment before making any decision. We must give the family some time to come out of their grief. We will soon discuss the party’s future course with Sunetra Pawar and the family,” he said.

Speaking to media persons, Chhagan Bhujbal said that “Sunetra Pawar may be elected as legislative party leader of the NCP tomorrow (Saturday). If there is unanimous consent among all members, the oath-taking ceremony could also take place tomorrow itself,” he said.

“There is a possibility that Sunetra Pawar’s name will be confirmed even for the post of Deputy CM. NCP MLAs have been called to Mumbai tomorrow (Saturday). It is understood that a final decision will be taken after discussing with Sunetra Pawar today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday),” Sunil Tatkare said.

Significantly, it was the Ajit Pawar-led NCP minister Narhari Zirwal who publicly stated on Thursday itself that he would like Ajit Pawar’s wife and NCP Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar to be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister, as part of the ruling Fadnavis-led Mahayuti alliance.

Meanwhile, sources said discussions about a post-Ajit Pawar NCP began right after the tragic air crash on Thursday night itself. Maharashtra state president of the party Sunil Tatkare, the party’s working president Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and the disgraced Dhananjay Munde first met Ajit Pawar’s wife in Baramati. After a discussion with her, they went on to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai late on Thursday night demanding the portfolios of the late Ajit Pawar, without consulting NCP founder Sharad Pawar.

It is learnt that Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde demanded that Ajit Pawar’s portfolios should be given to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP especially since the Maharashtra state budget will begin from February 23.

NCP founder Sharad Pawar has not reacted to these developments so far, though senior leaders have indicated that he will speak about the future political course of the NCP anytime. However, close confidantes of the late Ajit Pawar revealed that the departed deputy chief minister had planned to merge both the NCPs into a single party before his death.

Close Ajit Pawar confidante Kiran Gujar told media persons that the late deputy CM had confided in him about the merger only five days before his tragic demise on Wednesday, adding that he was determined to unite both the NCPs together while his uncle and NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar (85) is still in good health.

“Ajit Pawar had even shared his intention with select journalists during the recent civic polls, which both NCPs had contested as an alliance under a single election symbol. Ajit had said he wanted the merger to be formalised while his uncle, Sharad Pawar, remained in good health. After successfully contesting the January 15 civic elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together, both factions also decided to continue their alliance for the forthcoming Zilla Parishad elections in February. Ajit Pawar had already prepared a clear roadmap for the merged party and its future functioning,” Gujar said.

When asked whether Ajit had discussed the merger with his uncle Sharad Pawar, who is also the founder of the undivided NCP Sharad Pawar, Gujar replied, “Positive talks were underway with Pawar Saheb, Supriya Tai (Sule), and other senior leaders. Sharad Pawar would have endorsed the merger. Many positive things were on the cards but tragedy struck and took Ajit Dada away from us. Now, after his death, it has become even more important for both NCPs to unite and work for the development of Baramati and Maharashtra”.

Former Maharashtra home minister and senior Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Anil Deshmukh also stated that “Ajit Pawar firmly believed that both the NCPs must reunite. I, along with Jayant Patil and others, held several meetings in this regard. Ajit Dada was keen on taking a final decision on the merger after the corporation elections, but the announcement of the Zilla Parishad polls delayed the process. However, he was 100 per cent certain about the merger and had already begun taking the necessary steps. Both parties need to come together to honour Ajit Dada’s wish. This was his final wish and so steps should be taken accordingly”.

Another Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Eknath Khadse also told media persons that talks of a merger of both NCPs were “almost finalised” and that there was even a plan to formally announce it.

Reacting to the move to project the late Ajit Pawar’s wife NCP Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, “Both the NCPs should come together. We also knew that Ajit Dada had taken the initiative to merge both the NCPs. Many political leaders in Maharashtra feel that both the NCPs should come together, to reconcile divided votes. Now that Dada is no more, the party’s strength should be consolidated. If Sunetra Tai becomes the Deputy Chief Minister and the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, we are definitely happy about it. However, the post of Deputy Chief Minister is not a constitutional post”.