Sunetra Pawar to Lead NCP as Legislative Party Leader After Ajit Pawar's Death

Speaking to reporters, Bhujbal said, "It was decided among us that we will give Sunetra Pawar's name as legislative party leader."

The decision on the vacant post of Deputy CM will likely be taken later in the day, he said after the NCP leaders met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the vacant Deputy CM post following the demise of NCP chief Ajit Pawar.

"We went to meet the CM. Praful Bhai (Praful Patel), Tatkare (Sunil Tatkare) I, and Munde (Dhananjay Munde). We also met him (Fadnavis) last night. We asked if everything could be done tomorrow, from the swearing-in ceremony to everything else. The Chief Minister said he had no problem with it," he said.

"When someone passes away, sometimes people observe a period of mourning for three days, sometimes ten days, and during that time, people don't go out, or something like that, I don't know. Tatkare and Praful Bhai themselves are looking into it. Most likely, the decision will come in an hour or two," he added.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh also said that it will be a matter of great joy if Sunetra Pawar becomes the Deputy CM.

"If Sunetra Bhabhi is made Deputy Chief Minister, it will be a matter of great joy... The family will sit together after three or four days and then take a decision," he said.

He also said that NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who passed away in plane crash on Wednesday, wanted to merge back with Sharad Pawar's faction of NCP.

"It was the late Ajit Dada Pawar's heartfelt wish that both parties (Sharad Pawar faction and NCP) come together. For this, he had several meetings with Jayant Patil and others. Ajit Dada wanted both parties to unite as soon as possible, and a decision had already been made accordingly," he said.

He said the decision to merge both parties was finalised before the tragic incident.

"Only the announcement remained. Initially, it was decided that after the municipal elections, by January 20th, the declaration would be made, and both parties would unite. However, due to the sudden district council elections, this decision was postponed, and it was expected to happen around February 10th. But then this tragic accident occurred. Now, Sharad Pawar, Sunetra Bhabhi, Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar, and all of Ajit Dada's brothers and sisters will sit together and make a decision," Anil Deshmukh said.

Ajit Pawar, 66, died on Wednesday morning after the aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. The plane crash-landed near the runway threshold, killing all five people on board the chartered plane. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots.

- ANI