Baramati plane crash: Cracks appear in Pawar family again; NCP 'merger talks' on 'backburner'

MUMBAI: The "merger talks" between the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) appear to be on the backburner now following Sunetra Pawar's appointment as deputy CM.

Sharad Pawar's statement that he was not aware of Sunetra Pawar's swearing-in and that "it is their internal decision" confirms it is Ajit Pawar's family - Sunetra and her sons Jay and Parth -- and senior netas around them who have taken a call on their own.

If the entire Pawar family appeared united in grief days ago in the wake of Ajit Pawar's death, the new development has thrown open the political divide within, again.

Further confirmation came as both Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule stayed away from the oath-taking ceremony.

And about the same time Pawar Sr revealed he'd not been kept in the loop about the oath-taking, videos emerged on TV channels about a Jan 17 meeting between Ajit, his uncle and other netas, which the NCP (SP) camp said was held to discuss the merger.

However, the now Sunetra-led NCP's Sunil Tatkare refuted the claim, saying the meeting was held to discuss the alliance for the Feb 5 zilla parishad and panchayat samiti polls.

The absence of the NCP patriarch and Baramati MP Supriya Sule from the oath-taking function was conspicuous.

From Wednesday morning, Supriya Sule was a prominent presence by her sister-in-law's side, consoling her and accompanying her to the hospital where Ajit Pawar's body was brought after the plane crash. That evening, she was seen guiding proceedings when Ajit's mortal remains were brought to a maidan for people to pay their last respects, and the next day, she was again seen guiding people at the state funeral.

Early Saturday evening, Supriya said she was headed for Delhi for the Parliament session which continues on Sunday. Before her departure, she visited Ajit Pawar's mother Asha Pawar at her home in Katewadi village. But the open distancing at Sunetra's key moment stood out in contrast to Sule's unmissable presence earlier.

Asked by reporters why Pawar Sr too was not at the swearing-in, Sule said simply, with folded hands, "Ramkrishna Hari," a refrain from the Bhakti saint-poets movement and in this case probably referring to the mercurial nature of politics in western Maharashtra.

Sunetra, for her part, has clearly indicated she will not give up her claim to her husband's legacy. As she took oath, the words 'Mee Sunetra Ajit Pawar...' rang out loudly.