Mumbai, March 4 (NationPress) The efforts to unite the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have reached a complete impasse following the tragic passing of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. Senior leader from NCP (SP), Jayant Patil, emphasized that although a merger was on the brink of completion, the unexpected and “cruel twist of fate” has rendered it impossible to continue discussions as initially intended.

Patil informed the media that confidential, high-level talks between the factions had been ongoing for the last four months. He disclosed that Ajit Pawar was the key architect of the reunification strategy, motivated by a vision to restore unity within the party while Sharad Pawar remained healthy.

“Ajit Dada visited my home numerous times for these discussions,” Patil recounted. He added that “Ajit Dada firmly believed that the two sides needed to collaborate.” A consensus on a merger roadmap had already been established, with a formal announcement expected on February 12, just after the Zilla Parishad elections.

Sources from both the NCP and NCP(SP) indicated that the merger plan entailed a substantial power-sharing agreement. Under the proposed arrangement, Sharad Pawar was allegedly prepared to relinquish complete operational control and the role of National President of the unified NCP to Ajit Pawar.

In return, significant ministerial positions in the state Cabinet were to be assigned to leaders within Sharad Pawar's faction, including Jayant Patil, Rohit Pawar, and Shashikant Shinde.

The negotiations had advanced to such a degree that a joint meeting occurred as recently as January 17 at Sharad Pawar's Govindbagh residence in Baramati.

The momentum for reunification was abruptly halted on January 28, 2026, when a Learjet 45 carrying Ajit Pawar crashed in Baramati during landing in low visibility. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of the Deputy CM and four other individuals.

“This is an enormous shock. To have everything in place and then lose Dada in such a tragic manner is unimaginable,” Patil expressed.

He further remarked that without Ajit Pawar’s leadership and his remarkable ability to inspire confidence among his MLAs, the merger process has effectively reached a “dead end.”

While the Sharad Pawar faction remains receptive to honoring Ajit Pawar’s “last wish,” the political dynamics have shifted swiftly.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ajit Pawar’s spouse, Sunetra Pawar, was inaugurated as the Deputy Chief Minister in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government.

NCP's Sunil Tatkare has reaffirmed the party's allegiance to the Mahayuti alliance, distancing the current leadership from discussions of a merger. “We are part of the NDA and will continue to be so. Any conversation regarding a merger is inappropriate at a time when Ajit Dada is no longer with us,” he asserted.

With the principal negotiator no longer present and the legislative wing of the Ajit Pawar faction now turning towards Sunetra Pawar's leadership, Jayant Patil concluded that the opportunity for a formal merger has effectively closed for the foreseeable future.