![[File] Ajit Pawar with wife Sunetra Pawar | PTI](https://img.theweek.in/content/dam/week/week/news/india/images/2026/1/28/ajit-pawar-sunetra-pawar-pti.jpg.image.340.191.jpg "[File] Ajit Pawar with wife Sunetra Pawar | PTI")
The sudden and tragic death of Ajit Pawar, coming at a time when the NCP is facing a challenging phase, raises crucial questions about who will inherit his political legacy and assume control of the party.
The deputy chief minister was travelling to Baramati to attend a rally for the Zilla Parishad elections when his chartered aircraft crashed and went down in flames on Wednesday morning.
He is survived by wife Sunetra, a member of Rajya Sabha, and two sons, Parth and Jay.
Sunetra had unsuccessfully contested last Lok Sabha elections in 2024 from Baramati against Supriya Sule, her sister-in-law and daughter of veteran leader Sharad Pawar. The battle drew national attention, coming on the heels of the NCP split and the rift within the Pawar family, after Ajit broke away from the party led by his uncle to join the National Democratic Alliance.
Also read
- Ajit Pawar’s death: From Madhavrao Scindia to Vijay Rupani, a look at politicians who died in air crashes
- ‘If I were Sharad Pawar’s son...: Was Ajit Pawar denied the CM post in 2004?
- Will Parth Pawar take over NCP? What you need to know about Ajit Pawar's family
- Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash: What was the net worth of the late Maharashtra deputy chief minister?
Some reports have suggested that Sunetra could take the helm of the NCP even as there has been speculation that a merger between the two warring factions is becoming increasingly likely. Ajit’s shocking demise has left a significant void within the NCP, and one of the options the party may consider is, reports said, a merger with the rival faction to present a united front.
Moreover, signs of reconciliation had been apparent over the past several months, with members of the Pawar family appearing together at multiple events and posing for photos. The two factions also formed an alliance for municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad earlier this month, and have also announced a tie-up for the upcoming third phase of civic body polls on February 5.
However, some reports also suggested the possibility of a new generation of leadership, with Ajit’s son Parth becoming increasingly active in politics and being seen as his apparent heir.
Parth briefly stepped into electoral politics in 2019, when he unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election from the Maval constituency. Since then, he maintained a low-key profile with limited public appearances. Recently, his name had surfaced in the Mundhwa land scam case, putting the NCP on the defensive.
On the other hand, Sharad Pawar has been grooming his grandson, Rohit Pawar, for a leadership role. With Parth and Rohit at odds over various issues, merging the two factions under a single leadership would be a challenging task.
Also, it remains to be seen how receptive Sunetra would be to accepting Sharad Pawar’s leadership. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the veteran leader’s remark, calling her an 'outsider,' stirred controversy and provoked strong reactions from Ajit Pawar’s faction.
If the NCP chooses to remain a separate entity, either Sunetra or Parth is likely to take the helm. However, it remains to be seen how they, lacking Ajit’s political acumen, will navigate the party through this challenging period.
