‘NCP Merger Was Ajit Pawar’s Last Wish’: Reunion Buzz Grows Louder As Key Leaders Meet CM

Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 15:03 IST

NCP merger after Ajit Pawar's death: Anil Deshmukh to Kiran Gujar, leaders push for reunion of Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar groups

(From left) Supriya Sule with Sunetra Pawar. (PTI)

Days after the sudden death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday, the buzz over the merger of the two factions of the ist Congress Party (NCP) has grown louder, with many calling it the leader’s “last wish".

Ajit Pawar’s NCP is in alliance with CM Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Sena in the Maharashtra government. His uncle Sharad Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule’s NCP faction is in the opposition, with the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

During the recent civic polls, which the two factions contested in alliance, Ajit Pawar had also told select journalists that he intended to merge his party with the NCP (SP) while his uncle Sharad Pawar (85) was in good health. After contesting the January 15 civic elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together, the two factions decided to continue the tie-up for the next month’s Zilla Parishad elections too.

ALSO READ | Ajit Pawar’s Wife Sunetra May Be Picked As NCP Chief In Key Meet, Leaders Want Her As Deputy CM

At the time of his death, Ajit Pawar held key departments including Finance, Planning and State Excise, and had additional charge of Sports and Youth Welfare and Minority Development. All these portfolios are now vacant. A reshuffle in the Maharashtra cabinet is expected after Ajit Pawar’s death. Sources told CNN-News18 that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is likely to stake claim to the portfolios held by him, arguing that these departments were part of the party’s quota in the government.

Sources said the party may submit a letter to Chief Minister Fadnavis seeking that Ajit Pawar’s portfolios be allotted to the NCP. A final stand is expected to be communicated by late evening or Saturday.

NCP leaders meet Fadnavis at Varsha

NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Dhananjay Munde met CM Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Bungalow on Friday.

Praful Patel said it was regarding communication about Ajit Pawar’s portfolios. “We will take a decision on the NCP merger soon. We met the CM. We will also discuss with Ajit Pawar’s family," said Patel.

Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CM Eknath Shinde and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan met last night at Varsha Bungalow

NCP merger was Ajit Pawar’s last wish: Anil Deshmukh

“The whole family will decide on the successor," said Anil Deshmukh, at a press conference on Friday.

“It was the heartfelt wish of Ajit Pawar that both the NCP factions should merge at the earliest. Ajit Pawar had already started work in that direction. As he is not amongst us, we should go ahead with the merger…it was Ajit Pawar’s last wish," said Deshmukh.

Why they went to meet Fadnavis, I don’t know, he said.

Ajit Pawar was 100 per cent keen on merging the factions: Aide for 4 decades

Ajit Pawar was keen on the merger of the two factions of the ist Congress Party (NCP), and it was about to happen soon, Kiran Gujar, who had been associated with Ajit Pawar since before his entry into politics in the mid-1980s, told PTI on Thursday.

“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," Gujar said.

During the recent civic polls, which the two factions contested in alliance, Ajit Pawar had also told select journalists that he intended to merge his party with the NCP (SP) while his uncle Sharad Pawar (85) was in good health. After contesting the January 15 civic elections in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad together, the two factions decided to continue the tie-up for the next month’s Zilla Parishad elections too.

ALSO READ | NCP Reunion Announcement Live Updates HERE

Gujar said that Ajit had a roadmap ready for the merger and future course of the united NCP.

Asked whether he had discussed the issue with Sharad Pawar, Gujar said “positive talks were underway with Pawar saheb, Supriya Tai (Supriya Sule) and other leaders", and there were indications that the senior Pawar would endorse the move.

“Many positive things were on the cards, but this tragedy struck and took Ajit ‘dada‘ (elder brother, as he was popularly known) away from us. Now, after his death, it has become even more imperative that both factions come together and work for the betterment of Baramati and the state," he said.

Gujar, who has been associated with the Pawar family for over 40 years, remained with Ajit Pawar through his various political phases and was considered his close confidant.

News politics ‘Ajit Pawar’s Last Wish’: NCP Reunion Buzz Grows Louder As Key Leaders Meet CM

Read More