Overview
- Sunetra Pawar was chosen unopposed to lead the NCP and is set to formally assume charge at the February 26 executive meeting, party leaders said.
- Legislators authorized her to take organisational decisions and imposed a gag order on public discussion of reunification with the Sharad Pawar faction, with leaders reiterating the party’s place in the NDA.
- Sunetra Pawar and senior NCP leaders met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to request a CBI investigation into the January 28 plane crash; he said the state will write to the Union Home Ministry.
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said specialized support is being sought to retrieve cockpit voice recorder data from the Learjet 45 as its technical inquiry continues.
- NCP-SP’s Rohit Pawar claimed pre-death merger plans included appointing Shirur MP Amol Kolhe as state chief; Kolhe acknowledged talks occurred but called the matter irrelevant now, while NCP leaders declined comment.