A major political update has emerged from Maharashtra regarding Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister. Senior NCP leader Sharad Pawar stated that he was not aware of the decision and suggested that the party and Ajit Pawar’s family were responsible for finalizing it. He emphasized that someone needed to take Ajit Pawar’s responsibilities, and the party likely made the decision independently. Sharad Pawar also confirmed that discussions about merging the two NCP factions—led by Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil—had been ongoing for the past four months, with an official announcement initially planned for 12 February. However, Sumitra Pawar’s appointment appears to have been finalized without consulting Sharad Pawar, highlighting the persistent distance and differences within the Pawar family. Political analysts note that while the formal swearing-in and succession have been carried out, internal party negotiations are still ongoing. The next steps, including whether the NCP factions will merge under the new leadership, will now largely depend on Sunetra Pawar’s decisions. Meanwhile, leaders of the Ajit Pawar faction have also engaged with Devendra Fadnavis, further indicating strategic political planning amid ongoing intra-party disagreements. The developments underscore family dynamics, factional negotiations, and the consolidation of power within Maharashtra’s NCP.

