The Aryavarth Express Baramati (Maharashtra), January 30: Kiran Gujar, a member of Vidya Pratishthan and a close associate of the Pawar family, on Friday said that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar’s last wish was to see the unification of the two factions of the party.
Speaking to reporters after the immersion of Ajit Pawar’s ashes at the Sangam in Baramati, Gujar said discussions about merging the NCP and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) had been ongoing within the family. “It was Dada’s last wish that everyone should come together and the two factions of the NCP should unite. These talks were happening within the family for some time. In my last phone conversation with him, he had asked me for some election-related documents,” Gujar said.
Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, collected their father’s ashes at the Vidya Pratishthan ground, a day after his last rites were performed with full state honours following his demise in a plane crash in Baramati.
In recent months, the NCP and NCP (SCP) had contested the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections in alliance, and discussions were underway regarding a possible alliance for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Against this backdrop, speculation had intensified that the two factions could reunite under a single party symbol before Ajit Pawar’s death.
His passing has now triggered renewed political speculation in Maharashtra.
Reacting to the developments, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC urged restraint and appealed to people not to indulge in conjecture at a time of mourning. “This is not the time for speculation. Maharashtra has lost Ajit Dada, which is a huge loss for the state. Decisions regarding the NCP leadership and the post of Deputy Chief Minister are for the party to take. Politics can wait—let the family grieve,” she said.
Ajit Pawar’s last rites were held at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, where his sons performed the final rituals. Several senior leaders and dignitaries, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, and actor Riteish Deshmukh, attended the funeral to pay their respects.
A large number of supporters also gathered at the venue, raising slogans of “Ajit Dada amar rahe” as his mortal remains were brought for the final farewell.
