Baramati, Jan 29 (NationPress) In the wake of the sudden passing of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, discussions have ignited about the party's direction and who will take the helm.

Insiders are also speculating whether the BJP will keep the Deputy CM position from the NCP and who will emerge as Ajit Pawar's successor.

Traditionally, regional parties in India have been governed by prominent families. In Maharashtra, both Shiv Sena and NCP have maintained their power within familial circles. Since its establishment in 1999, Ajit Pawar has been a close ally to his mentor, Sharad Pawar. While Ajit had been active in politics since 1991, Supriya Sule made her parliamentary debut in 2006. The struggle over who would inherit Sharad Pawar's political legacy eventually led Ajit Pawar to create a breakaway faction in June 2023. Despite the presence of seasoned leaders like Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal, many believe that Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, was quietly steering party operations.

Moreover, during the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar nominated his wife, Sunetra Pawar, to run from Baramati despite warnings from BJP leaders. After her defeat, he managed to secure her a Rajya Sabha seat, which drew criticism for endorsing dynasty politics within his own faction.

Concerns about the party’s future strategy are mounting. Speculation is rife that Sunetra Pawar could be named interim president, yet political analysts remain doubtful. Neither Sunetra nor her sons, Parth and Jay Pawar, have substantial organizational or administrative experience.

Observers indicate that leaders who aligned with Ajit Pawar to be part of the ruling coalition are unlikely to revert to Sharad Pawar's camp, especially if it involves assuming opposition roles. Furthermore, Supriya Sule’s leadership reportedly fails to garner support from veteran members of the Ajit Pawar faction. With limited statewide influence from leaders like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, a leadership vacuum seems unavoidable.

The BJP, currently steering the Mahayuti government, is poised to play a pivotal role in this emerging crisis.

If the decline of a regional party enables the BJP to broaden its influence in Maharashtra, the ruling party is likely to encourage NCP stalwarts -- such as Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde -- to join its ranks. Unlike the situation with the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), which the BJP supports to counter Uddhav Thackeray, the BJP may not see the necessity to preserve the NCP as a standalone entity.

As the Sharad Pawar faction struggles to regain its position following losses in municipal elections, the BJP is expected to craft a strategy to either absorb or neutralize the NCP base, similar to its approach in handling the leadership void in Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK after Jayalalithaa's demise.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)