NCP faces leadership void

Ajit Pawar's sudden death has left a leadership vacuum in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with no successor commanding both organisational authority and the confidence of its 41 lawmakers.

- Faisal Malik

Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, CM Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CM Eknath Shinde meet NCP Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar and condole the death of her husband and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, at a hospital in Baramati on Wednesday.

(HT PHOTO)

Senior leaders say a smooth transition will require a member of the Pawar family to assume charge, and Ajit's wife, Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar, might be seen as the most suitable choice.

“Only a member of the Pawar family will be able to take over the leadership of the party. No one else will be accepted by the party’s leaders and MLAs,” said a senior NCP legislator, requesting anonymity.

Another senior functionary said parties rooted in powerful families usually pass the baton to a family member. “We have so many examples, such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) among others,” he said. “It is too early to speculate but one thing is certain, the new leader will come from Ajit Dada’s family.”