Ajit Pawar’s Final Wish: Merger of NCP Factions Set for February 12

January 31, 2026

MUMBAI, INDIA — In the wake of Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash, senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar has revealed that the late Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra was preparing to formally announce the merger of the two rival NCP factions on February 12, 2026, a move seen as his “final wish” to unify the party after years of factional division.

Merger Talks Near Completion Before Tragedy

Sharad Pawar stated that discussions to reunite the NCP factions, the one led by Ajit Pawar and the other headed by Sharad Pawar himself, had been underway for about four months and were “almost finalised” before Ajit Pawar’s untimely death in a plane crash near Baramati Airport in Pune district. He explained that Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Jayant Patil had been leading the merger negotiations, and that the plan was to make a formal announcement on February 12, signaling a major political consolidation.

Sharad Pawar emphasized that Ajit Pawar’s dream was for both factions to come together as one party, a goal that had gained momentum among leaders from both sides. He said that while he was not directly involved in the detailed negotiations, the talks were positive and widely supported internally.

Impact of Ajit Pawar’s Death on Party Unity

Ajit Pawar’s tragic passing has thrown these carefully laid plans into uncertainty, leaving the future of the proposed merger in limbo. Sharad Pawar acknowledged that while the roadmap for uniting the two factions was clear, the loss of the key architect of the plan poses a significant challenge to its implementation. The senior leader also revealed that he was not consulted about the recent elevation of Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister — a development that has stirred debate within party ranks.

The proposed merger had been viewed by many within the party as a way to strengthen the NCP’s position both within Maharashtra’s ruling alliance and in the broader political landscape. Ajit Pawar’s efforts to bridge the divide between the factions had gained support from a range of leaders, and his sudden death has renewed discussion on how to honor his vision while navigating current political challenges.

Political Uncertainty and Next Steps

With the plan to announce the merger on February 12 now disrupted, NCP leaders from both sides must decide how to proceed. Whether the reunification initiative will be revived and carried forward without Ajit Pawar’s leadership remains a critical question for the party’s future. For now, the emphasis among senior leaders appears to be on working through internal differences and determining a strategy that both respects Pawar’s legacy and addresses the immediate political realities following his death.