Ajit Pawar's Successor: Sunetra Pawar or Other Contenders for NCP Leadership?
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Firstpost•30-01-2026, 13:48
Ajit Pawar's Successor: Sunetra Pawar or Other Contenders for NCP Leadership?
- •Ajit Pawar's sudden demise has triggered a search for his successor to lead the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with the 'Pawar' name being central to the party's identity.
- •Sunetra Pawar, Ajit's wife, is considered the primary choice, having gained statewide recognition after contesting the Baramati Lok Sabha seat and being elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.
- •Senior NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal, have met Sunetra Pawar, urging her to take over the party leadership and join the Mahayuti government as Deputy Chief Minister.
- •Praful Patel, a founding NCP member and a strategist with strong Delhi connections, is a potential alternative if Sunetra declines, despite lacking a strong mass base in Maharashtra.
- •Other contenders include Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dhananjay Munde, while a possible reconciliation and merger of NCP factions could see Sharad Pawar stabilizing the party and guiding succession.
Why It Matters: The NCP faces a critical leadership vacuum after Ajit Pawar's death, with Sunetra Pawar as the frontrunner.
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