Ajit Pawar's Demise: NCP Faces Leadership Crisis, Unification Talks in Limbo
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News18•28-01-2026, 12:44
Ajit Pawar's Demise: NCP Faces Leadership Crisis, Unification Talks in Limbo
- •Ajit Pawar, a prominent NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM, died in a plane crash near Baramati, leaving a significant void in state politics.
- •His death comes amidst ongoing discussions for the unification of the two NCP factions, led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.
- •Ajit Pawar, known as 'Dada,' was a mass leader who strengthened the NCP in rural Maharashtra and led a major party split in 2023, taking most MLAs to form a government with BJP-Shiv Sena.
- •His faction, with over 40 MLAs, now faces a leadership dilemma, as potential successors like Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dhananjay Munde lack his charisma and mass appeal.
- •The future of the NCP is uncertain; unification with Sharad Pawar's faction seems a strong possibility to prevent further weakening and maintain the party's identity.
Why It Matters: Ajit Pawar's sudden death creates a leadership vacuum in NCP, potentially forcing unification with Sharad Pawar's faction.
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