Power Shift

THE untimely death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has the potential to tweak a political order in the state that had learned to accommodate his presence; on either side of the ideological fence.

- Priyanka Tupe

Leaders across parties and ideologies expressed grief and shock after his untimely demise on January 28. Pawar’s party, the NCP (AP), is an ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance in the state government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief, saying: “I lost my friend who was generous and the strongest leader.” Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, paid tribute to Pawar and were present for his last rites at Baramati.

While Pawar’s death has created a political vacuum in Maharashtra, the Mahayuti government is likely to remain unaffected, even if the NCP (AP) does undergo internal realignment, according to experts.

Both party factions—NCP (AP) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar)—had drawn closer over the past six months, jointly contesting the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal elections and opening merger talks. Pawar’s death removes the anchor for that process, with senior leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare unconvinced about reconciliation. Even a merger with the INDIA bloc would not threaten the government, given the BJP and Shinde’s numerical strength. Defections now appear more likely, deepening strains within the Mahayuti.