Analysis: Behind NCP's Sunetra Pawar Move 3 Days After Ajit Pawar's Death

On Wednesday morning, NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. Just three days later, on Saturday evening, his wife Sunetra Pawar is set to take the oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Amidst such a profound tragedy for the Pawar family, the haste in deciding Ajit Pawar's political successor has surprised many. The primary reason behind this move is believed to be the impending decision to merge Sharad Pawar's NCP and Ajit Pawar's party, a plan that was soon to be implemented. Heavyweights in Ajit Pawar's camp feared that if the merger took place, Sharad Pawar's faction would dominate the unified party, thereby diminishing their own influence.

Major political upheavals began in Maharashtra on the third day of the accident. Senior leaders of Ajit Pawar's NCP, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Sunil Tatkare, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to inform him of their decision to appoint Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister. Later that evening, a meeting of senior leaders was held, which Sunetra Pawar joined online. It was decided that she would be entrusted with all three responsibilities previously held by her husband:

The post of Deputy Chief Minister

The post of NCP President

Leader of the NCP Legislative Party

Sunetra Pawar will also be in charge of all the ministries that Ajit Pawar held in the Mahayuti government, with the exception of the Finance Ministry, which CM Devendra Fadnavis will retain. In exchange for Finance, another ministry will be allotted to the NCP. Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal told reporters that it was the unanimous wish of the party that Sunetra Pawar take over these responsibilities, which is why her name was proposed.

The Exclusion Of Sharad Pawar

Interestingly, Sharad Pawar was not consulted while deciding to hand over these responsibilities to Sunetra. In a press conference held in Baramati on Saturday morning, he spoke in a resentful tone, stating that the decision was taken by Praful Patel (Executive President) and Sunil Tatkare (State President), and that he had no prior information regarding the roles assigned to Sunetra Pawar.

The exclusion of Sharad Pawar from this process has raised questions about the intentions of the NCP leaders. It is believed that the catalyst was the merger agreement reached between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar on January 17, which was scheduled to be announced on February 12. Veteran leaders fear that if the party reunites, the leaders who remained loyal to Sharad Pawar after the July 2023 rebellion will hold sway, reducing the importance of those who defected with Ajit Pawar.

Fear Of Losing Power And Legal Troubles

There is another reason why leaders of Ajit Pawar's NCP are wary of reunification. Sharad Pawar recently stated that he would not align with the BJP under any circumstances. This sparked fears that a unified NCP might exit the NDA at the Centre and the Mahayuti alliance in the State, resulting in a loss of power for these leaders.

Notably, before joining the Mahayuti, many of these leaders were embroiled in criminal cases being investigated by agencies like the CBI, ED, and the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Joining the alliance brought them not only power but also relief from these legal proceedings. These leaders now fear that if a unified NCP exits the Mahayuti, their legal troubles could resurface.

On the other hand, Sunetra Pawar is a political novice. Her entry into politics occurred only in 2024 when she unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Baramati against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule. Consequently, these leaders believe that with Sunetra at the helm, it will be easier to influence party decisions and maintain their own dominance.

However, there is also chatter in Maharashtra's political circles that appointing Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister and Party President is merely a temporary arrangement. A merger of the two NCP factions is considered inevitable sooner or later, after which Sunetra Pawar's role may undergo a significant change.