Ajit Pawar Death: A day after the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, political voices within his party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have started calling for a cabinet position for his wife, Sunetra Pawar. Meanwhile, rival factions have expressed a desire for reconciliation and the continuation of merger talks.
Ajit Pawar's sudden death on Wednesday has left a significant void in Maharashtra's political landscape, as he was widely regarded for his competence, work ethic, and political attitude. With nearly four years remaining in the current Assembly’s tenure, a by-election will soon be required to fill the Baramati constituency, which has been left vacant by his passing.
In the wake of his death, discussions have already begun regarding who will be the most suitable candidate to contest the Baramati seat. It seems almost certain that a member of the Pawar family will stand for the constituency, and victory is widely anticipated. The only question is who will be chosen by the family to carry forward Ajit Pawar’s legacy.
Who will takeover Baramati?
The names that have surfaced include Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP, and his eldest son, Parth Pawar. There is a divide among supporters, with some advocating for Sunetra due to her political experience, while others view the by-election as a chance for Parth to make a political comeback.
Leaders within the NCP have suggested that Sunetra Pawar should take the lead and even step into a more prominent role within the party, which is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP.
Senior NCP figure and FDA Minister, Narhari Zirwal, stated that it was the public's desire to see Sunetra, who is a Rajya Sabha member, join the state ministry in her late husband’s place.
The Pawar family has been at the heart of dramatic political shifts over the past few years. In July 2023, Ajit Pawar broke away from the NCP after his uncle, Sharad Pawar, refused to hand over the leadership of the party to him. Ajit took with him more than two-thirds of the NCP’s MLAs and joined the Eknath Shinde-led government, which led to a split within the party co-founded by Sharad Pawar.
The division deepened during the last Lok Sabha elections when Ajit Pawar fielded Sunetra Pawar against his cousin, Supriya Sule, a three-time MP from Baramati. However, the voters of Baramati continued to favour Supriya Sule, who secured a fourth consecutive term with an increased majority.
Unable to accept his wife’s loss, Ajit Pawar appointed Sunetra to the Rajya Sabha and stationed her in Delhi to challenge Supriya Sule again. Despite opposition from senior party leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Ajit remained resolute in his decision.
Although Sunetra Pawar lost in the parliamentary election, Ajit Pawar himself secured his eighth consecutive victory in the Baramati Assembly elections held just six months later. Sharad Pawar had fielded his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, in a bid to challenge Ajit, but the latter emerged victorious.
Now, following Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise, Baramati is once again left without representation in the Assembly. Supporters of the late leader have started calling for Sunetra to contest the by-election, while others are backing Parth Pawar, who has not contested an election since his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Maval. Parth, however, is being seen as a strong contender for the seat.
Given the recent political changes within the Pawar family, it is believed that Parth may now also receive the backing of his grandfather, Sharad Pawar, and his aunt, Supriya Sule.
Meanwhile, the position of Deputy Chief Minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government remains vacant, with no clear frontrunner emerging to fill the role at this stage.