Baramati: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday distanced himself from reports of Sunetra Pawar’s imminent swearing-in as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, stating he learned of it only through news channels and had no prior knowledge or discussions on the matter.
Addressing a press conference in Baramati, Pawar emphasized his late nephew Ajit Pawar’s desire to unite the fractured NCP factions. "We didn’t know about the swearing-in. We found out about it through news reports. I have no idea about the swearing-in," he said, adding that no one from his family planned to attend the ceremony.
Pawar suggested the ruling NCP faction—led by figures like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare—had made the decision internally, possibly feeling someone needed to fill the vacancy left by Ajit Pawar’s death in the January 28 Baramati plane crash. "Their party is different. Our party is different," he remarked when asked if he had been consulted before Sunetra’s name was proposed.
The veteran leader revealed that merger talks between the factions had advanced significantly, with Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP)’s Jayant Patil leading discussions for the past four months. A formal announcement had been scheduled for February 12, but the tragic crash derailed the process. "We cannot bring Ajit back. We have lost him. Now we have to see how to face the situation," Pawar said, noting optimism about eventual unification.
On conspiracy theories surrounding the crash, he urged patience for the DGCA investigation, which would examine all aspects.
(Inputs from IANS)