PTI
Mumbai
The process to merge the NCP (SP) and NCP may now face a roadblock due to the death of Ajit Pawar, said Sharad Pawar on Saturday.
NCP (SP) Maharashtra unit president Shashikant Shinde said Sharad Pawar and other leaders had no prior knowledge about the decision that NCP’s Sunetra Pawar would take oath as the state Deputy Chief Minister.
Sunetra Pawar (62), wife of Ajit Pawar who died in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28, was on Saturday sworn in as the first woman Deputy CM of Maharashtra.
After taking the oath of office, Sunetra Pawar vowed to carry forward her husband’s people-centric legacy and work with a sense of duty to serve the state.
Addressing reporters, Shinde said, “There had been discussions and meetings on the two NCPs coming together. But Ajitdada is no more. Some broad positions had been discussed earlier. Now, we will discuss what needs to be done and then make a decision. How others respond is their call.”
On questions over the apparent haste in conducting Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in ceremony, Shinde said the answers should come from her family, senior party leaders, or the Chief Minister and his colleagues.
Speaking to reporters in Baramati in the morning, Sharad Pawar said he learnt about the swearing-in from the news, and he had not been consulted about Sunetra Pawar’s decision to join the state cabinet.
It was may late nephew Ajit’s wish to unite the two factions, and “now it is our wish that his wish should be fulfilled,” Sharad Pawar said, while admitting that the process might hit a roadblock due to his sudden death.
Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil had been holdings talks on the merger roadmap, Sharad Pawar revealed.
“Ajit Pawar’s passing is a great loss to Maharashtra. When the state is in mourning, why this decision was taken is not known to us. They will have to explain it,” Shashikant Shinde said.Sharad Pawar did not have prior knowledge about her swearing-in, Shinde said.
According to him, in the three months prior to Ajit Pawar’s January 17 meeting with Sharad Pawar, eight to ten meetings had been held.
“After the civic elections, a decision was taken to work towards unifying the two parties. This position was also conveyed to Sharad Pawar,” he said.
Referring to a video of the January 17 meeting between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar that has gone viral, Shinde said it was held at Pawar senior’s residence and not at Jayant Patil’s house.
“…Ajitdada said he had discussed the matter with the state president and others, and that he has taken the decision,” Shinde said.
Candidates were fielded in civic polls across Maharashtra on the party (NCP) symbol, and it was discussed that a decision on unification would be taken after the results were declared, he said.
Asked whether Ajit Pawar wanted the two NCP factions to merge but faced resistance from senior leaders in his party, Shinde said he had no information on that.
“After completing all processes, we will try to bring leaders from both sides together and hold discussions. Based on the decisions they take, we will decide our next course of action,” he said.
Sunetra Pawar became the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and was allotted excise, sports, minority development and Aukaf departments, but not finance and planning which her late husband Ajit Pawar held.
The brief swearing-in ceremony was held at the Lok Bhavan here.
Finance and Planning Department was not allocated to her, indicating that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will hold the charge of the crucial portfolio and present the Budget next month.
Sunetra Pawar resigned her Rajya Sabha membership. She is not a member of either House of the state legislature at present, and is expected to contest the byelection to the Baramati assembly constituency represented by her late husband.
