Kumar Bahukhandi
Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Ajit Pawar, is likely to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday. (Facebook)
However, the haste has raised eyebrows as the three-day state mourning period is yet to end.
Mumbai: Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Ajit Pawar, is likely to be sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is scheduled to hold a meeting on Saturday to elect its Legislature Party leader. The development follows a meeting between state NCP president Sunil Tatkare, NCP working president Praful Patel and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday.
Discussions are also underway on the possible merger of the two NCP factions and the redistribution of key portfolios. Mr. Patel said the party would soon have to fill the posts held by Ajit Pawar, who was the Legislature Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister. “We will have to speak to the family and seek their consent before filling the key post,” he said.
Ajit Pawar, 66, fondly known as ‘Dada’, was cremated with full state honours on Thursday at Baramati in Pune district. A day after his cremation, the NCP leadership began the process of filling the posts he held. However, the haste has raised eyebrows as the three-day state mourning period is yet to end.
According to sources, the NDA leadership has conveyed to the NCP that the posts of NCP national president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister should be held by a member of the Pawar family. While some leaders in the Ajit Pawar-led NCP were initially opposed to the proposal, Sunetra Pawar’s name is now believed to be the frontrunner for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. A decision on the party’s national president is expected in the coming days.
A political observer said that although there is no administrative crisis, the urgency has raised questions. “This is not an administrative crisis in the state government, but a battle to control the reins of the party amid a political churn,” the observer said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also criticised the timing. “It is inhuman to talk on this (leadership) issue. If anyone has raised this issue, then they have zero humanity. Be it ministers or MLAs. The woman (Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra) has lost her husband. Her eyes are still welling,” he said.
Several NCP leaders and MLAs have been demanding that Sunetra Pawar be appointed Deputy Chief Minister. After the split in the NCP, she contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Baramati. Following her defeat, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking to reporters, Patel clarified that Sunetra Pawar’s name had not been discussed formally on Friday. “This is an internal party matter. Who should replace Ajit Pawar is a decision that rests with the party,” he said. “We are a constituent of the Mahayuti and will take an appropriate decision after consulting the Chief Minister, the party MLAs and leaders, and the family.”
Sources in the state legislature said the meeting to elect the Legislature Party leader would be held at the Maharashtra legislature around 2 pm on Saturday. Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in is expected to take place later in the evening, subject to the availability of Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is currently out of the state.
Senior NCP leader and Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the post of Deputy Chief Minister is vacant and Sunetra Pawar’s name could be finalised. “The party has to function by entrusting responsibility to someone. There is a demand to give the post to Sunetra Pawar, and it is justified,” he said.
