Emotional Farewell: Sharad Pawar Remembers Late Nephew Ajit Pawar Amid Political Speculations
A Heartfelt Tribute in Baramati
Baramati: On Wednesday, NCP(SP) President Sharad Pawar delivered a touching tribute to his nephew, the late Ajit Pawar, who tragically lost his life in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati.
Upon his arrival from Govind Baug, Sharad Pawar appeared visibly affected by the loss. With the help of security personnel, he approached his nephew's portrait, bowing his head in a silent and emotional homage that moved family members and supporters to tears.
During a prayer meeting (Shok Sabha), Sharad Pawar spent time with family, engaging with citizens and party members who came to express their condolences.
The gathering at Sahyog Society, Ajit Pawar's residence, included Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with family members such as Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar, Srinivas Pawar, and Rohit Pawar.
While the visit was primarily personal, it has ignited significant political interest, marking the first encounter between Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar since her recent appointment as Deputy Chief Minister.
Maharashtra is engulfed in grief following Ajit Pawar's untimely passing, with emotional tributes flooding in from various quarters as supporters and leaders come together to honor his legacy.
In the past two days, numerous leaders and party workers from across the state have visited to pay their respects to the Pawar family.
After arriving from Mumbai, Sharad Pawar engaged in high-level discussions in Baramati, holding separate meetings with Parth Pawar, Jay Pawar, and Vijaya Patil, as well as with the trustees of Vidya Pratishthan.
Earlier, he addressed the media regarding the current political landscape. When questioned about Sunetra Pawar's decision to take the oath as Deputy Chief Minister shortly after the tragedy, which has raised eyebrows, Sharad Pawar chose not to comment, instead focusing on national security issues and the situation at the India-China border.
Regarding the potential merger of the two NCP factions, Sharad Pawar criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his remarks on the matter. 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?"
In response to Fadnavis's comments, Sharad Pawar firmly stated that the Chief Minister was not involved in discussions regarding the merger of the two NCP factions and thus had no authority to comment on it.
He emphasized that Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar were the key figures in these discussions, reiterating that talks for an NCP merger were indeed underway when the family faced this tragedy.