Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was keen on merging the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the move was close to becoming a reality, a close associate of the late leader said on Thursday.
Kiran Gujar, who had been associated with Ajit Pawar since before his entry into politics in the mid-1980s, told PTI that Pawar had shared this plan with him just five days before Wednesday’s fatal plane crash.
“He was 100% keen on merging both factions. He told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and that the merger would happen in the next few days,” Gujar said.
During the recent civic elections, which the two factions contested together as allies, Ajit Pawar had also told a few journalists that he wanted to merge his party with the NCP (SP) while his uncle Sharad Pawar was still in good health.
After jointly contesting the January 15 civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the two factions decided to continue their alliance for the Zilla Parishad elections scheduled for next month.
Gujar said Ajit Pawar had a clear roadmap for the merger and for the future direction of a united NCP.
When asked whether Ajit Pawar had discussed the issue with Sharad Pawar, Gujar said, “Positive talks were underway with Pawar saheb, Supriya Tai (Supriya Sule), and other leaders.” He added that there were signs Sharad Pawar would support the move.
“Many positive developments were expected, but this tragedy struck and took Ajit ‘dada’ away from us. After his death, it has become even more important for both factions to come together and work for the betterment of Baramati and the state,” Gujar said.
Gujar, who has been associated with the Pawar family for more than 40 years, stood by Ajit Pawar through different phases of his political career and was regarded as one of his closest confidants.
Recalling Ajit Pawar’s early years, Gujar said that after Ajit won the election to the Chhatrapati Cooperative Sugar Mill in 1981, he was encouraged to enter politics.
“Initially, he was hesitant and wanted to focus on his family and farming. But after Pawar saheb became chief minister in the late 1980s, there was a need for young leadership in Baramati, and dada stepped into that role,” he said.
“Development in the area will continue, but a leader like Ajit dada will not emerge again,” Gujar added.
