Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and one of the state’s key power brokers, died in a tragic air crash on Wednesday, without realising his goal of becoming the chief minister. For the 66-year-old grassroots politician, the end came in Baramati, his home turf.
As the undisputed head and the face of his faction (which was legally recognised as the “real” NCP by the Election Commission in 2024), his sudden death leaves the party without its primary strategist and power broker.
There is no clear, singular successor designated to take over the party’s leadership. Speculation is already centering on a few key figures, including his son, Parth Pawar, or his wife, Sunetra Pawar, for continuity, though they lack his extensive legislative experience.
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Political experts are of the view that senior leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare may likely manage the administrative and parliamentary operations in the interim.
The “Reunion” Theory
Days before his death, reports had emerged of a potential thaw between the two factions of the NCP, with increasing speculation that Ajit Pawarmight return to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
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Earlier this month, both factions formed an alliance for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal elections. This partnership is set to continue for the third phase of civic polls on February 5, where both groups have agreed to contest under the “clock” symbol belonging to Ajit Pawar’s faction.
These moves follow months of visible reconciliation, marked by frequent public appearances and joint family photographs that signaled a thawing of political tensions.
In an interview with the Times of India earlier this month,Ajit Pawarhinted at a possible reunion with his uncle, stating that “there are no permanent enemies in politics”.
Last week, NCP’s Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare, in an interview with the Indian Express, said that the two factions would hold discussions for a merger if circumstances arise. “It is possible. We will fight together and this means there will be one symbol,” he said.
With Ajit gone, there will be immense pressure from the rank-and-file for the two factions to reunite under Sharad Pawar to prevent the party from disintegrating.
Impact on the Mahayuti Alliance
Ajit Pawar’s death will also create a massive political vacuum that directly threatens the stability and future composition of the Mahayuti alliance.
His absence changes the coalition’s math in three critical ways:
Loss of a “Force Multiplier”: The 66-year-old was not only the primary link between the BJP and the splintered NCP, but also the Mahayuti’s primary strategist for rural Maharashtra and the sugar belt.
The Baramati Factor: He had an immense clout on the cooperative sectors and local bodies in western Maharashtra. In his absence, the BJP and Shinde-led Sena are likely to lose their hold to these crucial vote banks.
Administrative Gap: Having served as Deputy CM a record six times, he was the government’s most experienced administrator. A workaholic, Pawar was famous for his punctuality, unlike many politicians notorious for their tardiness. His death leavesChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis without his most effective “troubleshooter.”
Pawar never hid his desire to become the state’s CM
Pawar, who has the record of becoming the deputy chief minister in several governments, led by the Congress, Shiv Sena and BJP, has never shied away from expressing his desire to become the state’s CM.
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Under uncle’s far-reaching shadow, Pawar learned the game of politics and power and moulded himself into the hard-nosed politician who played a starring role in re-shaping Maharashtra’s political landscape.
From the setback in last year’s Lok Sabha election where his party won only one seat, he outwitted critics by bagging 41 seats in the assembly polls five months later, in alliance with the BJP, while his uncle Sharad Pawar’s party – the NCP(SP) – got only 10 seats.
He fortified his position in state politics after the 2024 assembly results.
Known to speak his mind, Ajit Pawarmaintained that he joined the ruling alliance of BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for development and that he had not deviated from his core progressive ideology.
He stayed focussed on his party and his ministries while political speculation centred around the so-called one-upmanship between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the other deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
Political journey
Born on July 22, 1959 to Asha and Anantrao Pawar, Ajit Pawar entered politics in 1982 when he was elected to the board of a sugar factory.
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In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Baramati and later vacated the seat for his uncle, Sharad Pawar, who then became defence minister in P V Narasimha Rao’s government.
Ajit Pawar then served as Baramati MLA for eight terms from 1991.
Ajit Pawar, who was the finance and planning minister, would have tabled his budget for 2026-27 next month when the state legislature’s budget session begins in Mumbai on February 23.
In the days to come, the focus will be on the future of the NCP factions, with political circles buzzing with the possible merger of the two outfits. |
