Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 14:42 IST
Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh said the decision on Ajit Pawar’s political successor would be taken by the family collectively.
TL;DR: A series of political meetings in Mumbai has fuelled speculation of a Maharashtra cabinet reshuffle following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday.
A series of political meetings in Mumbai has fuelled speculation of a Maharashtra cabinet reshuffle following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday.
Sources said senior leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Dhananjay Munde, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Bungalow on Thursday. The discussions were centred on communication related to the portfolios held by Ajit Pawar. A separate meeting was also held earlier between Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan at the same venue.
Amid these developments, sources close to the Pawar family said the Nationalist Congress Party is likely to call a meeting of its legislature party on Friday. Sunetra Pawar is expected to be elected as the CLP leader, sources said.
Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh said the decision on Ajit Pawar’s political successor would be taken by the family collectively. He added that it was Ajit Pawar’s heartfelt wish that both factions of the NCP should merge at the earliest and that he had already begun working in that direction.
A reshuffle in the Maharashtra cabinet is expected after Ajit Pawar’s death. Sources told CNN-News18 that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is likely to stake claim to the portfolios held by him, arguing that these departments were part of the party’s quota in the government.
Sources said the party may submit a letter to Chief Minister Fadnavis seeking that Ajit Pawar’s portfolios be allotted to the NCP. A final stand is expected to be communicated by late evening or Saturday.
At the time of his death, Ajit Pawar held key departments including Finance, Planning and State Excise, and had additional charge of Sports and Youth Welfare and Minority Development. All these portfolios are now vacant.
Ajit Pawar’s Wife Sunetra May Be Picked As Leader Of NCP In CLP Meet, Leaders Want Her As Deputy CM
TL;DR: Amid the buzz over Ajit Pawar’s successor and merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the party is likely to call their legislative party meeting on Saturday.
Amid the buzz over Ajit Pawar’s successor and merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the party is likely to call their legislative party meeting on Saturday.
Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra will be picked as the leader of the faction in the meeting, said sources close to the family. Read More
Ajit Pawar Held 14 Meetings With Sharad Pawar Faction To Discuss Possible NCP Merger: Sources
TL;DR: Efforts to reunite the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were already at an advanced stage before the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, sources have told CNN-News18 .
Efforts to reunite the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were already at an advanced stage before the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, sources have told CNN-News18. According to sources familiar with the process, Ajit Pawar had held 14 meetings over several weeks with senior party leaders, including Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, and Amol Kolhe, to explore the possibility of bringing the divided NCP back together. Senior BJP leaders were also kept informed of these developments and later shared details of the meetings, sources said. Read More
NCP Reunion Announcement Live Updates: Ajit Pawar Wanted NCP Merger, Says Anil Deshmukh
TL;DR: Addressing the media on Friday, NCP-SCP leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar wanted both the factions to come together.
Addressing the media on Friday, NCP-SCP leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar wanted both the factions to come together.
“Ajit Pawar wanted a merger (of both factions of NCP) to happen. Jayant Patil also held meetings…We will decide after the municipal corporation elections. Both factions (of NCP) need to come together as per Ajit Dada’s wish. This was his final wish, so steps should be taken accordingly,” said Deshmukh.
Ajit Pawar News Live: Maharashtra CID Begins Probe Into Baramati Plane Crash That Killed Ajit Pawar
What Next For NCP After Ajit Pawar’s Death? Vacant Portfolios, Merger Questions Loom
TL;DR: Sources said the NCP is likely to submit a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding that Ajit Pawar’s portfolios be allotted to the NCP as the departments came under the party’s quota.
The Maharashtra cabinet is likely to see a reshuffle in the wake of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise in a plane crash on Wednesday, with the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) seeking to stake a claim to his portfolios, sources told CNN-News18.
Sources said the NCP is likely to submit a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding that Ajit Pawar’s portfolios be allotted to the NCP as the departments came under the party’s quota. Top sources from the party said they would clarify their stance by late evening today or tomorrow. Read More
Ajit Pawar News Live: Senior Leaders Meet CM Fadnavis Amid Portfolio Talks
TL;DR: Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Dhananjay Munde met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Bungalow, with sources saying discussions were related to communication over Ajit Pawar’s portfolios.
Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare and Dhananjay Munde met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Bungalow, with sources saying discussions were related to communication over Ajit Pawar’s portfolios.
Ajit Pawar News Live: NCP To Call CLP Meet, Sunetra Pawar Likely To Be Elected Leader
TL;DR: Sources close to the Pawar family said the NCP is likely to convene its legislature party meeting on Friday, during which Sunetra Pawar is expected to be elected as the CLP leader.
Sources close to the Pawar family said the NCP is likely to convene its legislature party meeting on Friday, during which Sunetra Pawar is expected to be elected as the CLP leader.
Ajit Pawar News Live: NCP To Stake Claim On Ajit Pawar’s Portfolios, Say Sources
TL;DR: Sources told CNN-News18 that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is likely to write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking that the departments held by Ajit Pawar be retained by the party.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is likely to write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking that the departments held by Ajit Pawar be retained by the party.
Ajit Pawar News Live: Cabinet Reshuffle Likely After Ajit Pawar’s Death
TL;DR: A reshuffle in the Maharashtra cabinet is expected following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, with several key portfolios currently lying vacant.
A reshuffle in the Maharashtra cabinet is expected following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, with several key portfolios currently lying vacant.
Curated by James Chen
