Will Sunetra Pawar become Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister? Speculation intensifies after Ajit Pawar’s death

Mumbai: Political developments have accelerated following the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar’s death has left the posts of Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister vacant. There is speculation that Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, will be appointed to these positions. Meanwhile, NCP leaders Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal met with Sunetra Pawar, further fueling the speculation.

Sources say that NCP leaders are trying to ensure that Sunetra Pawar takes over the leadership of the NCP and also assumes the post of Deputy Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s supporters have demanded that Sunetra Pawar be made Deputy Chief Minister after Ajit Pawar. This demand was made by Ajit Pawar’s supporters in Baramati after his funeral.

Demand for Sunetra Pawar to be made Deputy Chief Minister intensifies
They say that if Sunetra Pawar is made Deputy Chief Minister, then the name of Ajit Pawar will remain associated with the Deputy Chief Minister’s post through Sunetra. The workers also say that the Pawar family should collectively decide on the merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions. However, these workers also believe that the family should now discuss and decide on the leadership together.

On the other hand, political analyst Sanjeev Unhale says that Ajit Pawar held important positions at the national level, such as President, Deputy Chief Minister, and Finance Minister. It is not possible for Sunetra Pawar to handle all these positions. Therefore, she might become the President of the Nationalist Party or the Deputy Chief Minister.

Speculation intensifies after Ajit Pawar’s death
However, Sanjeev Unhale also speculated that all this will happen under the leadership of the BJP. If Ajit Pawar’s ideology is to be preserved, then Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar should be given a chance. If they get this opportunity, then Ajit Pawar’s influence will remain on the party. Everyone has ambitions. It’s not that MP Sunil Tatkare lacks ambition.

He also speculated that several Nationalist Party leaders might be vying for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post, as many, including Chhagan Bhujbal, had worked with Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati airport on Wednesday. His funeral was held with state honors at the Vidya Pratishthan grounds in Baramati on Thursday morning. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several other prominent leaders were present on the occasion.