Mumbai, Jan 31: NCP Maharashtra State President Sunil Tatkare on Saturday refrained from commenting on the speculation surrounding the appointment of Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Ajit Pawar, as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Tatkare, when approached by reporters, made it clear that the decision would ultimately be made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the final say on the matter following Ajit Pawar's untimely demise.
“I don’t have anything to say on this matter right now. We have a meeting this afternoon, and after the meeting, we will meet with the Chief Minister. After the meeting with the Chief Minister, we will present our views to him, and then the Chief Minister will make a decision on it. We will discuss all these things later,” said Tatkare.
The NCP is set to hold a crucial meeting later today, where it is expected that the party will submit its nomination for the vacant Deputy CM post. While the name of Sunetra Pawar has been prominently discussed, party leaders are still finalizing their stance.
Sharad Pawar, the NCP’s veteran leader, also expressed uncertainty about the rumors surrounding Sunetra Pawar's potential candidacy for the Deputy CM role. “I have no information about it. Her party must have decided. What I saw in the newspaper today: some names like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare who have taken the initiative to make some decisions,” Pawar remarked, distancing himself from the discussions.
Ajit Pawar, 66, tragically passed away in a plane crash along with four others on Wednesday. In the wake of his sudden death, there has been speculation that his wife, Sunetra Pawar, could be appointed to fill the vacant position of Deputy Chief Minister. Maharashtra Minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal suggested that the party had indeed proposed Sunetra Pawar’s name for the role and even inquired whether the swearing-in ceremony could take place immediately
Sharad Pawar, however, pointed to internal discussions being held in Mumbai, suggesting that decisions were being made by other senior NCP leaders. "If there is a problem in the family, the family stands together. There are no issues in the family. All these discussions are not taking place here; they are happening in Mumbai. Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and other senior leaders are having these discussions. Whatever is being seen appears to be decisions taken by them. I will not comment on this,” he said.
Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Rupali Patil Thombare confirmed that Sunetra Pawar was set to take the oath as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday. "Ajit dada's death was very shocking. He is not with us anymore. Sunetra Vahini (Sunetra Pawar) is grieving much more than all of us. She lost her husband all of a sudden. This is the fourth day since his death. We, the workers, have urged Vahini to forget her pain and adopt Ajit Dada's dreams and work style. For this, she has made a decision for today; she had to," Thombare said.
She also stressed the importance of timing in politics, adding, “Timing is very important in politics. People will talk. Those who are speaking for him today used to comment on him when he was alive. Vahini is going to take oath as the Deputy CM today.”
The situation in Maharashtra continues to evolve as the NCP grapples with the loss of one of its most prominent leaders, and the state's political landscape is poised for significant changes.
