NCP Reunion Expected Mid-February After Ajit Pawar’s Tragic Death: Four Leaders in Race for Party Leadership

NCP Reunion Expected Mid-February: A Political Dynasty Faces Its Defining Moment

In a stunning turn of events that has reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape, the two warring factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are set to reunite with a formal announcement expected in mid-February 2026, following local body elections. This historic merger comes in the wake of a devastating tragedy—the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who perished in a catastrophic plane crash at Baramati Airport on January 28, 2026.

Ajit Pawar, who had spearheaded secret reunion talks with his uncle Sharad Pawar in December 2025 and January 2026, died alongside four others when their Learjet 45XR crashed and burst into flames during a second landing attempt amid poor visibility. The 65-year-old leader was traveling to Baramati to address multiple public meetings ahead of Zilla Parishad elections when the tragedy occurred.

Now, as Maharashtra mourns one of its most influential politicians, party leaders face the monumental task of not only completing the merger Ajit Pawar envisioned but also selecting new leadership from among four frontrunners: veteran party founder Sharad Pawar, Ajit’s widow Sunetra Pawar, his cousin Supriya Sule, and party stalwart Praful Patel.

The Baramati Tragedy: How Maharashtra Lost Its Deputy Chief Minister

The Fatal Flight on January 28, 2026

At approximately 8:46 AM IST on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Maharashtra politics changed forever. A Bombardier Learjet 45XR (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures and carrying Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport in Pune district.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 reveals the harrowing final moments of the flight:​

• 8:10 AM: Aircraft departed from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
• 8:30 AM: First unsuccessful landing attempt at Baramati due to poor visibility
• 8:42 AM: Second approach initiated to runway 11
• 8:43 AM: Air Traffic Control (ATC) cleared the aircraft to land on runway 11
• 8:44 AM: No readback received from the crew; ATC spotted flames
• 8:45 AM: Aircraft disappeared from radar after crashing in a ball of fire near the runway threshold

CCTV footage captured the horrifying accident, showing the aircraft flipping, losing control, crashing behind a small shop, and exploding into a massive fireball. Eyewitnesses reported 4-5 explosions rocking the crash site as the Learjet burst into flames upon impact in a nearby field.

The Five Victims

All five people aboard the aircraft perished in the crash:

1. Ajit Pawar – Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, identified later by his watch as his body was unrecognizable after the fire​
2. Captain Sumit Kapur – Pilot, experienced in operating the Learjet 45
3. First Officer Sambhavi Pathak – Co-pilot
4. Vidip Jadhav – Ajit Pawar’s Personal Security Officer (PSO)
5. Pinky Mali – Flight attendant

VK Singh, owner of VSR Aviation, defended his company’s safety record, insisting the aircraft was “100% safe” and flown by an experienced crew.​

The Dangerous Tabletop Runway

Baramati Airport’s 1,770-meter runway sits at an elevation of 604 meters above mean sea level and lacks advanced landing aids such as an Instrument Landing System (ILS). The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has classified it as a tabletop runway, though it differs from India’s five primary tabletop facilities at Kozhikode, Mangalore, Lengpui, Shimla, and Pakyong.

Critical safety deficiencies at Baramati Airport include:

• No ILS facilities: Pilots must attempt manual and visual landings without electronic guidance
• Narrow runway: Only 30 meters wide, compared to 75-80 meters at major city airports
• Shallow hump: Creates optical illusions that can alter a pilot’s depth perception
• No night-landing facility: Limited operations during low-visibility conditions
• Inadequate fire services: Basic emergency response capabilities
• Uncontrolled airspace: Lacks comprehensive navigation aids

Aviation expert Captain Amit Karve stated bluntly: “In my opinion, it’s not suitable for VIP operations”.​

The crash occurred during dense fog with visibility around 800 meters, forcing the pilot—who was familiar with the tabletop runway—to attempt a challenging approach known as the “short finals phase,” which experts identified as potentially unstable. The aircraft veered off the runway approximately 100 meters from its edge and was completely destroyed by fire.

The DGCA has launched a comprehensive investigation into potential weather factors, technical faults, and operational lapses.​

The Pawar Family Split: A Political Dynasty Divided

The 1999 NCP Foundation

To understand the significance of the upcoming reunion, one must first appreciate the history of the Nationalist Congress Party itself. Sharad Pawar, now 85 years old, founded the NCP in 1999 after splitting from the Indian National Congress due to disagreements over leadership dynamics. The veteran politician, who had served as Maharashtra Chief Minister multiple times and as Union Minister for Agriculture and Defence, created the NCP to address regional issues while maintaining some ideological ties with Congress.

The party quickly gained popularity in Maharashtra by focusing on local governance and social justice issues. In the same year of its formation, the NCP and Congress formed a coalition government when neither party secured a clear majority. For over two decades, Sharad Pawar remained at the helm, mentoring leaders across Maharashtra and building a political dynasty centered in the family stronghold of Baramati.

The July 2023 Rebellion

On July 2, 2023, the Pawar political dynasty fractured in spectacular fashion. Ajit Pawar, Sharad’s nephew and the party’s legislative leader, along with eight other senior NCP leaders, broke away from the party and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Shiv Sena alliance known as Mahayuti.

Ajit Pawar was immediately sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, marking an official split that created two distinct factions:​

1. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) – Later officially named NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCPSP)
2. NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) – Retained the original party name and election symbol after a ruling by the Election Commission

Several of Sharad Pawar’s closest associates joined Ajit’s rebellion, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dilip Walse-Patil. The split was devastating for the original NCP, both politically and emotionally, severing uncle from nephew and dividing a family that had dominated Maharashtra politics for decades.

The 2024 Electoral Verdict

The November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections delivered a crushing verdict that seemed to vindicate Ajit Pawar’s strategic gamble. The Mahayuti alliance—comprising BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP—secured a landslide victory, winning approximately 232-236 seats out of 288.​

The seat breakdown revealed the stark electoral reality:

• Ajit Pawar’s NCP: Won 41 seats, consolidating its position as a major force
• Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP): Managed only 10 seats in its worst electoral performance ever

Ajit Pawar celebrated the “pink victory” (pink being his faction’s campaign color) on social media, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance—consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), and NCP(SP)—was reduced to approximately 54 seats combined.​​

The Mahayuti alliance continued its dominance into 2025, winning 215 of 288 seats in Maharashtra’s civic body elections.​

The Secret Reconciliation: Ajit Pawar’s Final Mission

December-January Peace Talks

Despite the bitter 2023 split and Ajit Pawar’s electoral triumph in 2024, sources reveal that the Deputy Chief Minister had initiated secret reconciliation talks with his uncle Sharad Pawar in the final months of 2025. These confidential meetings, held throughout December 2025 and January 2026, laid the groundwork for a historic reunion that both leaders hoped would heal the family and political rift.

NCP leader Ankush Kakade disclosed that Ajit Pawar wanted to complete the merger last month as a “gift” to his uncle on Sharad Pawar’s birthday (December 12, 2025), but the reunion did not materialize at that time due to political complexities. Senior NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil confirmed to NDTV that Ajit Pawar had pushed aggressively for the reunion and held “high-level meetings for the same on January 16 and 17” 2026—just days before his fatal plane crash.​

The two leaders had reportedly reached substantial agreement on the merger framework and were scheduled to formally announce the reunion through a joint press conference after local body elections in February 2026. Ajit Pawar’s untimely death has left this reconciliation effort incomplete, though sources indicate that leaders from both factions remain committed to honoring his vision.​

Why the Reunion Now?

Several political factors likely motivated the reconciliation efforts:

1. Family Unity: The 2023 split had created deep personal wounds within the Pawar family, with uncle and nephew estranged despite decades of close collaboration
2. Electoral Mathematics: While Ajit’s faction won more seats in 2024, the division weakened the overall NCP brand and influence
3. Sharad Pawar’s Legacy: At 85, the party founder may have sought to reunite the party before stepping away from active politics
4. Mahayuti Dynamics: Ajit Pawar’s position within the BJP-led alliance may have been more complex than public statements suggested
5. Future Electoral Strategy: A united NCP would be a more formidable force in future elections than two competing factions

The Leadership Race: Four Frontrunners to Lead the Merged NCP

With Ajit Pawar’s death creating an unexpected leadership vacuum, sources indicate that four prominent leaders are being considered to lead the reunited Nationalist Congress Party.

1. Sharad Pawar: The Patriarch and Founder

Age: 85 years old
Current Position: Former NCP President (stepped down in 2023), Rajya Sabha MP
Political Experience: 60+ years

Sharad Pawar is one of India’s most seasoned and influential politicians. His career spans six decades, including stints as Maharashtra Chief Minister (four times), Union Minister for Defence, and Union Minister for Agriculture. He founded the NCP in 1999 and guided it to becoming Maharashtra’s third-largest political force.

Strengths:

• Unmatched political experience and strategic acumen
• Commands respect across party lines and within the Pawar family
• Symbol of party unity and ideological continuity
• National stature and connections across India’s political landscape

Challenges:

• Advanced age and previously stepped down from party presidency in 2023
• May prefer a mentorship role rather than active day-to-day leadership
• Health considerations for the demanding role of party chief

Likelihood: Moderate. Sharad Pawar could serve as a unifying transitional leader or party patriarch while younger leaders handle operational responsibilities.

2. Sunetra Pawar: The Widow and Rajya Sabha MP

Age: Approximately 58 years old
Current Position: Rajya Sabha MP, Ajit Pawar’s widow
Political Experience: Relatively recent entrant to electoral politics

Sunetra Pawar has emerged as the frontrunner according to multiple sources within the NCP. A strong “chorus within the NCP is seeking the appointment of Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP, to lead the outfit as the party president and legislative party leader”.

Strengths:

• Represents continuity with Ajit Pawar’s vision and leadership
• Emotional sympathy factor following her husband’s tragic death
• Could unite both factions by honoring Ajit’s legacy while maintaining family ties
• Rajya Sabha position provides political experience and platform

Challenges:

• Limited electoral and administrative experience compared to other candidates
• “Technical limitations or political considerations” may complicate her appointment
• May face resistance from legislators seeking more experienced leadership
• No prior experience as a legislative party leader managing MLAs

Likelihood: High. Sources consistently identify her as the preferred candidate, though practical considerations may affect the final decision.

3. Supriya Sule: The Political Heiress

Age: Approximately 55 years old
Current Position: Lok Sabha MP from Baramati (multiple terms), Sharad Pawar’s daughter
Political Experience: Nearly two decades in Parliament

Supriya Sule represents the direct political legacy of Sharad Pawar. She has served as the Member of Parliament from the family stronghold of Baramati for multiple terms and is widely regarded as her father’s political heir.

Strengths:

• Extensive parliamentary experience and national profile
• Direct lineage as Sharad Pawar’s daughter, ensuring ideological continuity
• Strong organizational skills and political acumen
• Respected across party lines for her work in Parliament
• Could bridge both factions as a member of the founder’s family

Challenges:

• May be seen as representing only the Sharad Pawar faction
• Lacks legislative experience in Maharashtra Assembly
• Potential resistance from Ajit Pawar faction legislators
• Balancing parliamentary responsibilities with state party leadership

Likelihood: Moderate to High. Her credentials are strong, though family dynamics and factional politics may influence the decision.

4. Praful Patel: The Organizational Veteran

Age: Approximately 67 years old
Current Position: Senior NCP leader, Rajya Sabha MP
Political Experience: Over three decades, including Union Cabinet positions

Praful Patel is identified as the likely successor “if Sunetra Pawar’s appointment faces hurdles”. He joined Ajit Pawar’s faction during the 2023 split despite being one of Sharad Pawar’s closest associates for decades.

Strengths:

• Extensive administrative experience, including as Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Heavy Industries
• Strong organizational capabilities and national political connections
• Acceptable to both factions due to long association with both Pawars
• Proven track record managing complex political situations
• Parliamentary experience in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

Challenges:

• Switched to Ajit Pawar faction in 2023, potentially creating trust issues with Sharad Pawar supporters
• Not a member of the Pawar family, lacking the dynasty connection
• May be seen as a compromise candidate rather than inspirational leader

Likelihood: Moderate. A safe, experienced choice if family-based options prove unworkable.

The Merged Party: Challenges and Opportunities

Immediate Organizational Tasks

Leaders from both factions are expected to meet next week to finalize the merger details. The agenda will likely include:

1. Leadership Selection: Resolving the party president and legislative party leader positions
2. Organizational Integration: Merging district and local units that have operated separately since 2023
3. Symbol and Name: Determining which faction’s official party name and election symbol will be retained
4. Power Sharing: Distributing ministerial positions and party roles between former rivals
5. Policy Platform: Establishing unified positions on key state and national issues

The Electoral Imperative

The timing of the reunion announcement—after local body elections in mid-February—reflects political pragmatism. Local elections will proceed under the current factional arrangements, avoiding confusion among voters and party workers. The merged entity will then have time to consolidate before the next major electoral test.​

The combined electoral strength could be formidable:

• 2024 Assembly Seats: 41 (Ajit faction) + 10 (Sharad faction) = 51 seats combined
• Organizational Network: Reuniting district organizations, youth and women’s wings, and local leadership
• Financial Resources: Pooling fundraising capabilities and corporate connections
• Family Brand: Restoring the unified “Pawar” political brand in Maharashtra

Mahayuti Alliance Dynamics

A critical question is how the reunited NCP will position itself within Maharashtra’s governing Mahayuti alliance. Ajit Pawar’s faction has been a coalition partner with BJP and Shiv Sena since July 2023, holding the Deputy Chief Minister position and several cabinet portfolios.

The merger raises several scenarios:

• Continued Mahayuti Partnership: The united NCP remains in the government, potentially with strengthened bargaining position
• Renegotiated Terms: Merger triggers discussions about cabinet positions and policy priorities
• Strategic Autonomy: United NCP maintains alliance but with greater independence on key issues
• Future Flexibility: Keeping options open for different alliance configurations in subsequent elections

Maharashtra Politics at a Crossroads

The impending NCP reunion represents far more than a simple organizational merger. It symbolizes the resolution of a family feud that has captivated Maharashtra politics for nearly three years, the completion of Ajit Pawar’s final political mission, and the potential restoration of one of the state’s most influential political dynasties.

Sharad Pawar, who will turn 86 in December 2026, faces perhaps the most consequential decision of his six-decade political career: whether to return as party chief to complete the reunion his nephew envisioned, or to pass leadership to the next generation. Sunetra Pawar grapples with sudden political prominence following personal tragedy, weighing whether to step into her late husband’s shoes or defer to more experienced leaders. Supriya Sule must balance her national parliamentary role with the possibility of state party leadership. And Praful Patel positions himself as the organizational veteran ready to bridge factional divides if family politics prove too complex.

The Broader Implications

The reunion will reverberate beyond Maharashtra:

• National Politics: A strengthened NCP could play a more significant role in national coalition politics
• Opposition Dynamics: How will the Congress and other opposition parties respond to a united NCP?
• Dynasty Politics: The Pawar family’s reconciliation will be watched closely by other political dynasties
• Regional Party Resilience: The merger demonstrates how regional parties can adapt and survive political fragmentation

Conclusion: Honoring Ajit Pawar’s Legacy

As Maharashtra prepares for the mid-February announcement, the political community reflects on Ajit Pawar’s complex legacy. The leader who rebelled against his uncle in 2023, achieved electoral success in 2024, and then worked secretly to heal the family rift in his final months embodied the contradictions and pragmatism of Indian politics.

His tragic death at Baramati Airport—just kilometers from the Pawar family’s ancestral stronghold—has given his reunion efforts added poignancy and urgency. Leaders from both factions speak of completing “Ajit’s mission” and honoring his vision for a united party.

The selection of the new leadership—whether Sunetra Pawar, Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, or Praful Patel—will determine not only the NCP’s organizational structure but also its ideological direction, electoral strategy, and role in Maharashtra’s political future.

As India watches, the Pawar family prepares to write the next chapter in one of Maharashtra’s most remarkable political sagas. The reunion announcement in mid-February will reveal whether Ajit Pawar’s final dream of family and political unity can indeed be realized, transforming tragedy into legacy and division into renewed strength.