Sharad Pawar Cancels Delhi Parliament Visit, Heads to Baramati Amid NCP Merger Turmoil
In a significant political development, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar abruptly cancelled his scheduled visit to Delhi and returned to Baramati from Mumbai on Tuesday. This unexpected change in plans has sparked intense speculation within political circles, particularly as it coincides with growing uncertainty over the proposed merger of the two NCP factions.
Last-Minute Schedule Revision Raises Questions
According to senior NCP (SP) functionaries, Pawar, who is a Rajya Sabha MP, was originally slated to travel to Delhi to participate in the ongoing Parliament session. However, in a last-minute revision of his itinerary, he decided to cancel his Delhi engagements entirely. "At the last moment, the schedule was revised, and he cancelled his Delhi plans and left for Pune from Mumbai on Tuesday morning," revealed a party insider. After a brief stop at his Pune residence, Pawar proceeded to Baramati, where he is expected to remain until the weekend, according to sources.
Merger Plans Derailed by Ajit Pawar's Tragic Demise
The political landscape within the NCP has been in flux following the untimely death of senior leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati last week. NCP (SP) members have indicated that the late leader was a strong proponent of merging the two factions, and unification plans were reportedly in their final stages. However, his tragic passing has not only halted these merger discussions but has also exposed deepening rifts within the Pawar family.
The fissures became publicly evident when Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, traveled to Mumbai to take oath as deputy chief minister on Saturday. Sharad Pawar openly expressed his displeasure, claiming that she had neither consulted nor informed him about her decision prior to the swearing-in ceremony.
Family Dynamics and Political Maneuvering in Baramati
In the aftermath of Saturday's events, there was an expectation among members of both NCP groups that the family would convene in Baramati following Sunetra's return. However, this anticipated gathering did not materialize as planned. Supriya Sule, the Baramati Lok Sabha MP, had already departed for Delhi to attend the Budget session of Parliament. Before her departure, she visited Ajit Pawar's mother, Ashatai Pawar, at her residence in Katewadi, Baramati.
When Sunetra Pawar returned to Baramati on Sunday, Sharad Pawar, along with his wife Pratibha and grandnephew MLA Rohit Pawar, had already left their hometown for Mumbai. This sequence of movements highlighted the strained coordination within the family.
However, in a new twist, Sharad Pawar returned to Baramati on Tuesday night. Concurrently, Sunetra Pawar, accompanied by both her sons, was also present in Baramati, receiving visitors who came to offer condolences at her residence. According to NCP (SP) functionaries, Pawar Senior is scheduled to hold crucial meetings in Baramati over the coming days. Yet, it remains unclear whether he will engage in a direct meeting with Sunetra Pawar during this period.
The evolving situation in Baramati underscores the complex interplay of personal grief and political strategy within the Pawar family. As Sharad Pawar consolidates his presence in his political stronghold, the future of the NCP merger and the party's internal unity hangs in the balance, with all eyes on the developments unfolding in Baramati.
