Maharashtra’s political landscape faces a significant shift following the untimely death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday. The incident has opened discussions within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on both cabinet representation and the future direction of the party.

Leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction are expected to submit a formal request to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking allocation of the portfolios previously held by Ajit Pawar. At the time of his death, he was in charge of key departments including Finance, Planning, and State Excise, and also held additional responsibilities for Sports and Youth Welfare and Minority Development. These positions are now vacant, and the party is likely to stake claims in line with its quota in the state cabinet.

Meanwhile, attention is turning to the future of the NCP itself. Ajit Pawar had reportedly been keen on merging the two factions of the party, a process that had reached an advanced stage before his death. Kiran Gujar, a longtime associate of Pawar, said, “He was one hundred per cent keen on merging both the factions. He had told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger was imminent in the next few days.”

The Ajit Pawar faction currently has internal divisions, with one group favouring continued support to the Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP, while the other leans toward reuniting with Sharad Pawar’s faction. The recent developments have accelerated discussions about the leadership vacuum and party unity.

Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife and a Rajya Sabha member, has emerged as a key figure in these deliberations. Senior NCP leader and FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal noted, “It is the people’s wish that ‘vahini’ be made a cabinet member. We will talk to our leadership about it and take a decision.” Zirwal, a close confidant of Ajit Pawar, added that the factions have already collaborated in recent local body polls, signalling a possible pathway toward reunification.

Political observers suggest that Sunetra Pawar could be considered not only for a cabinet berth but also for greater leadership responsibilities within the party, including a role in guiding the NCP through the upcoming local elections and potentially contesting the Baramati seat.