Sunetra Pawar Holds Key Delhi Meetings with PM Modi, Amit Shah as NCP Leadership Questions Deepen After Ajit Pawar’s Tragic Crash

Delhi: In her first high-profile political outreach after taking oath as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Sunetra Pawar travelled to New Delhi on Wednesday and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The visit assumes significance as it comes shortly after the untimely death of her husband, senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, in a fatal air crash last month.

Sunetra Pawar was accompanied by her sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, along with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) veteran and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel. The meetings have sparked speculation about the party’s future direction and leadership structure in the wake of the sudden vacuum created by Ajit Pawar’s demise.

No Merger Talks on Agenda

Sources indicated that discussions during the Delhi visit did not include any proposal regarding a possible merger between rival NCP factions. Leaders aligned with the late Ajit Pawar’s camp are reportedly firm in their opposition to any consolidation move. Party insiders clarified that merger discussions were neither formally proposed nor informally explored during the high-level meetings.

Rajya Sabha Seat: Wait and Watch

Sunetra Pawar, who currently holds a Rajya Sabha seat, has not stepped down from the Upper House. Those close to her suggest she is adopting a cautious approach while assessing her next political steps. No immediate decision has been announced regarding her parliamentary position.

National President Post in Focus

Within the party, there appears to be growing agreement on elevating Sunetra Pawar to a larger organisational role. Discussions are underway about appointing her as the National President of the NCP. A National Executive meeting is likely to be convened in Mumbai later this month to formalise leadership decisions.

Parth Pawar’s Prospects

Meanwhile, there is internal buzz about Parth Pawar potentially being nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Party sources describe the possibility as “under consideration,” though no formal announcement has been made.

Tragedy That Changed the Equation

Ajit Pawar lost his life on January 28 when a chartered aircraft he was travelling in crashed near Baramati during landing. The aircraft had departed from Mumbai earlier that morning. All five individuals on board perished in the accident. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.