After about a week Ajit Pawar died in a fatal plane crash The merger of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions – led by a Sharad Pawar And another – led by his nephew Ajith – has emerged as a flashpoint as the NCP (Sharad Chandra Pawar) chief ditched Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his merger demand. Track updates on Mamta SIR hearing
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar addresses a press conference in Mumbai, Wednesday, February 4, 2026. (PTI)Sharad said that the merger talks were between Ajit and Jayant Patil and not with Fadnavis, who had earlier said that Ajit would have shared the merger talks with him had it indeed happened.
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Sharad was speaking to reporters in Baramati on Wednesday where he said that NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil and his nephew and NCP chief Ajith led the merger talks.
“I don’t understand, what right does he have to mention my name? Since he was nowhere in the merger talks, he has no right to comment on it,” said the NCP (SP) chief, who also expressed happiness over Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in as deputy chief minister.
Sunetra Pawar, NCP leader and widow of late Ajit Pawar, stepped in Fill the post left vacant after his death.
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“Currently, our entire focus is on taking care of everyone and moving forward together with those who are bereaved. As of now, there is no discussion of any political decision,” he said.
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Pawar also said he would not be able to attend Parliament on Budget Day for the first time in 58 years due to a family incident and expressed concern that the Union Budget may create difficulties for the common man.
“Be it the Maharashtra Assembly or the country’s Lok Sabha, I have been a member for the past 58 years. In these 58 years, I have never been absent from Parliament on Budget Day. Unfortunately, due to an incident in my family, I could not attend Parliament on Budget Day this year.”
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NCP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a fatal plane crash in Baramati on January 28. The sudden death created a political vacuum in Maharashtra politics where he was a respected figure and known grandfather (elder brother). Four others including his security officer and the flight crew Died in an accident.
With input from Yogesh Joshi
