Ajit Pawar’s Unfinished Wish: A Dream of NCP Unity Left Unfulfilled

Baramati, Jan 2026 : Senior NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Ankush Kakade on Thursday shared an emotional and deeply personal account of former Deputy Chief Minister late Ajit Pawar’s last political wish—the reunification of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). According to Kakade, Ajit Pawar had hoped to bring the divided party together by December 12, the birthday of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, as a symbolic “gift” to the veteran leader.

Kakade revealed that serious discussions had been underway, but the long-anticipated merger could not be completed in time. Speaking with visible emotion, he said Ajit Pawar had personally reached out to him and other senior leaders who shared close ties with Sharad Pawar, urging them to act as mediators and help heal the rift within the party.

“Ajit Pawar had told us clearly—‘You have good relations with Saheb. Please speak to him. Try to find a way for both factions to come together again,’” Kakade recalled. He said leaders such as Vitthal Sheth Maniar and Srinivas Patil were also involved in these efforts, reflecting Ajit Pawar’s determination to restore unity within the party he had helped build.

Reflecting on their long political association, Kakade said their journey began together at the District Central Cooperative Bank, and Maharashtra would never forget Ajit Pawar’s contribution to public life. He emphasized that Ajit Pawar always saw himself as a custodian of Sharad Pawar’s political legacy, despite the unfortunate split.

Kakade further disclosed that both factions had even agreed in principle to contest upcoming Municipal Corporation elections together, signalling a thaw in relations. “Ajit Pawar told me, ‘We were supposed to reunite on December 12. It didn’t happen. It’s okay—we will come together after the elections,’” Kakade said. Tragically, fate intervened before this reconciliation could be formally announced, leaving his final wish unfulfilled.

Meanwhile, NCP minister Narhari Zirwal offered a broader perspective on the evolving political and emotional landscape within the party. He acknowledged that the split was a product of “changing times and development-oriented politics,” but stressed that the emotional bond between party workers on both sides had never truly broken.

Zirwal said the tragedy has created a shared sense of grief that goes beyond party flags and symbols. “Even while working in the Ajit Pawar-led faction, many of us—including myself—have always looked up to Sharad Pawar Saheb as a father figure,” he said. “His blessings have always been with us, even if from a distance.”

Addressing speculation about a possible reunification, Zirwal noted that any such decision would ultimately depend on the will of party workers and the guidance of senior leadership. He suggested that in the aftermath of Ajit Pawar’s passing, the immediate priority would be maintaining stability within the party, though he did not rule out a future “homecoming.”

“If unity serves Maharashtra’s interests and aligns with the original vision of the undivided NCP, it will certainly be considered,” Zirwal said.

As Maharashtra mourns a towering political figure, the NCP stands at a crossroads—caught between past divisions and a shared legacy. Ajit Pawar’s unfulfilled wish for unity now lingers as both a reminder of unfinished business and a possible roadmap for reconciliation in the days ahead.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)