Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule might skip Sunetra Pawar’s oath amid NCP power storm: Reports

In a move that has sent fresh ripples through Maharashtra’s already volatile political landscape, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule will not attend the oath-taking ceremony of Sunetra Pawar, who is widely expected to take charge as Maharashtra’s new Deputy Chief Minister later today.

The swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held at 5 pm on Saturday, making the absence of the party patriarch and his daughter all the more striking.

Their decision comes at a moment when the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is grappling with grief, transition, and deep political uncertainty following the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash.

Earlier in the day, Sharad Pawar addressed speculation surrounding a crucial NCP meeting scheduled in Mumbai, brushing aside suggestions that it had any bearing on his faction. “It’s their internal party matter,” Pawar said curtly, making it clear that the meeting did not involve his group.

When pressed on whether talks were underway for a merger between the two rival NCP factions or a possible move to join the NDA, Pawar firmly rejected the claims. “This is all going on your side (media).

There is nothing like it here,” he said, attempting to douse rumours that have dominated political chatter since Ajit Pawar’s sudden demise.

Despite these denials, political activity within the NCP has intensified. Senior party leaders are locked in back-to-back discussions as the party prepares for a leadership transition that could redefine its future.

Sources indicate that Sunetra Pawar has emerged as the leading choice to step into the powerful Deputy Chief Minister’s role, a move seen by many as both symbolic and strategic in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Adding fuel to the speculation, key NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Sunil Tatkare, and Dhananjay Munde met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Varsha Bungalow on Friday.

The high-profile meeting has only deepened speculation that a formal leadership announcement, and possibly a larger political realignment, is imminent.

The developments come amid whispers that unifying the fractured NCP was Ajit Pawar’s “last wish”, a claim that has gained traction in political circles but remains officially unconfirmed. Sharad Pawar’s absence from Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking, however, signals that any such reconciliation is far from straightforward.

As Maharashtra watches events unfold hour by hour, today’s oath-taking could mark not just a change in office, but a defining moment in the NCP’s turbulent journey.