NCP's future at stake after Ajit Pawar's death: Political analysts

The tragic and untimely demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash has not only left a vacuum in the BJP-led state coalition government, but also cast a shadow on the future of the NCP. The NCP is likely to face a leadership crisis following Ajit Pawar's death, as there is no clear second-in-command, say political observers.

As the 'clock' symbol lost its undisputed leader, questions loomed over the party's survival and its future equation with founder Sharad Pawar, whose Rajya Sabha tenure ends in April this year. There has been speculation whether the NCP might reunite with the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), especially as ties between the factions have softened in recent months.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will need to ensure that the 41 MLAs aligned with Ajit Pawar do not drift back toward Sharad Pawar, political analysts say.

Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra, is currently a Rajya Sabha member and has been politically active, though she lacks administrative experience. The NCP has one Lok Sabha member, Sunil Tatkare, and two Rajya Sabha MPs - Praful Patel and Sunetra Pawar.

With NCP founder Sharad Pawar staying away from the public glare during the recently held local bodies and civic elections, his daughter and NCP (SP) working president, Supriya Sule, campaigned for the party candidates, but was no match for her cousin Ajit Pawar, who campaigned statewide.

State politics was abuzz with speculation about a possible merger of NCP (SP) with the NCP under Ajit Pawar's leadership.

Senior journalist Prakash Akolkar told PTI that both NCP factions are contesting the February 5 Zilla Parishad elections together on the 'clock' symbol, effectively signalling an unofficial merger. "The question is no longer about who merges with whom. With only two Opposition parties left-Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT)-it remains to be seen whether the Congress can revive itself," he said.