Overview
- Ajit Pawar’s widow was unanimously chosen to lead the NCP legislative party at a meeting attended by 38 of 40 MLAs and seven of eight MLCs before taking the oath.
- She was assigned excise, minority affairs, and sports and youth welfare, while the finance department remains with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is expected to present the state budget.
- Sharad Pawar said he was not consulted on the decision, and a planned February 12 announcement to reunify the two NCP factions is now uncertain, with Union minister Piyush Goyal expressing doubt about a merger.
- Party seniors Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal pushed the rapid elevation to stabilize the Ajit-led camp and retain control after his death in the Baramati air crash.
- Fadnavis said NCP decisions are internal, signaled no objection to Parth Pawar, and indicated Ajit had not briefed him on any merger talks.