Baramati, February 4 (NationPress) In a deeply moving moment on Wednesday, NCP(SP) President Sharad Pawar offered a heartfelt tribute to his nephew, the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28.

Arriving from Govind Baug, the elder Pawar was clearly affected, showing visible signs of grief. With the aid of security personnel, he approached his nephew's portrait with unsteady steps, bowing his head in a silent yet poignant tribute. This emotional moment brought tears to the eyes of family members and supporters present.

Sharad Pawar took time to sit with the family during a prayer meeting (Shok Sabha), engaging with citizens and party members who came to express their condolences.

At the Sahyog Society in Baramati, the residence of the late Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar, Srinivas Pawar, Rohit Pawar, and other family members were in attendance.

Although this visit was primarily personal, it has ignited significant political interest. This meeting marks the first encounter between Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar since her inauguration as Deputy Chief Minister the previous Saturday.

A profound sense of sorrow has enveloped Maharashtra following Ajit Pawar's untimely passing. As the state grapples with this loss, tributes are flooding in from various quarters, with supporters and leaders gathering to pay their respects.

In the past two days, leaders and party members from throughout the state have been arriving to extend their condolences to the Pawar family.

Upon arriving from Mumbai, Sharad Pawar engaged in high-level discussions in Baramati, including separate meetings with Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar, and Vijaya Patil. A discussion with the trustees of Vidya Pratishthan also took place.

Earlier, Sharad Pawar addressed the media concerning the current political climate. When questioned about Sunetra Pawar’s decision to take the oath as Deputy Chief Minister shortly after the tragedy — a choice that has stirred controversy — he remained reticent. “I prefer not to comment on Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in,” he said, opting to discuss national security issues and the ongoing situation at the India-China border instead.

On the topic of a potential merger between the two NCP factions, Sharad Pawar, who indicated that Ajit Pawar was set to announce something regarding this on February 12, criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his remarks on the matter.

CM Fadnavis had previously stated, “We do not wish to engage in politics given the current circumstances; otherwise, I could reveal many things. I am aware of everything. I have been a witness to all these events. You all know that because of my relationship with Ajit Dada, he used to share everything with me. Therefore, I believe it is inappropriate to engage in low-level politics. If Ajit Pawar were discussing any such merger, would he do so without consulting the BJP?”

When questioned about this today, Sharad Pawar issued a firm rebuttal. He asserted that Fadnavis was not involved in discussions regarding the merger of the two NCP factions and thus has no authority to comment on it.

He reaffirmed that Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar were the ones engaged in these discussions, emphasizing that talks for an NCP merger were indeed underway when tragedy struck the family.