Ever since the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) made its plans to merge with the Ajit Pawar faction official on Thursday, plans to derail the move began, a report claimed. The plots stemmed from the belief that Sharad Pawar would become the undisputed leader of the party, which would not be in favour of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance or a section of the NCP (Ajit Pawar), it added.
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The BJP has made all the arrangements to ensure that Sunetra Pawar will become the final word in Ajit Pawar's camp. Devendra Fadnavis’s party Co is hopeful that they will be able to keep the party within its fold if Sunetra Pawar is in charge, Loksatta pointed out in a report. The Sharad Pawar camp was not kept in the loop about her elevation, and this is why the veteran leader told the media that he was in the dark about her entry into the state cabinet. “We have no idea about Sunetra Pawar's oath-taking ceremony as Deputy Chief Minister,” Sharad Pawar had said about the programme scheduled for Saturday evening.
What happens if NCP merger becomes reality?
Even if the merger happens, the BJP wants to ensure Sharad Pawar will not enjoy a monopoly in decision-making. The elevation of Sunetra Pawar as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state is a measure to strengthen her position within the party so that she will be capable of rallying cadres behind her after the merger. The saffron party is strongly backed by a group of NCP (Ajit Pawar) leaders who believe they stand to lose dearly if the unification happens. These leaders believe their careers will hit roadblocks if Sharad Pawar becomes the patriarch of a unified NCP again. NCP (SP) leaders are likely to dominate them when it comes to ticket distribution, as well as party hierarchy and roles, they fear.
"Some people like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare took the initiative. These people might have decided something," the senior Pawar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The veteran leader further claimed that it was his late nephew Ajit Pawar's wish to unite both factions and that they were optimistic about it. "Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled. Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde, and Jayant Patil had initiated the talks about the merger of the two factions. Even the merger date had been fixed—it was scheduled for the 12th (February). Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that," he said.
Sources from the NCP had said on Friday that the Rajya Sabha MP is likely to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday, replacing her late husband, Ajit Pawar, in the cabinet. Following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the 28 January air crash in Baramati, a section of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders had demanded that she be given the post held by her late husband in the Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet.
Only time will tell if the efforts from the Mahayuti will succeed.
