Four months after Ajit Pawar’s death, rival NCP factions to hold separate foundation day events

This year’s event comes against the backdrop of Ajit Pawar’s death in an aircraft crash on January 28. In the weeks leading up to his death, leaders from both factions were engaged in talks over a possible merger. The proposal has since been shelved, with both sides deciding not to pursue reunification.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Tatkare said Ajit Pawar had worked tirelessly to expand the party and strengthen its grassroots presence across Maharashtra. He noted that under Ajit’s leadership, the NCP had emerged as the single-largest party in the 2004 Assembly elections, winning 73 seats.

Tatkare recalled that in 2023, guided by the vision of late deputy prime minister Yashwantrao Chavan that meaningful welfare of the broader masses could be achieved only through participation in governance, the party collectively decided under Ajit’s leadership to join the BJP-led alliance NDA. Referring to the party’s recent electoral performance, Tatkare said that although it fell short of expectations in the Lok Sabha elections, it performed strongly in the Assembly polls, contesting 59 seats and winning 41 under Ajit Pawar’s leadership.

“Just as the government had begun gathering momentum, our own momentum was halted by Ajitdada’s untimely passing,” Tatkare said. “It has now been four months since we lost him, and the pain remains profound.”

He said this year’s Foundation Day celebrations of the faction led by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar would therefore be centred around the themes of “Dedication” (a tribute to Ajit Pawar), “Struggle” (the party’s political and ideological journey), and “Resolve” (its vision and goals for the future). ​​​​​​

He appealed to party workers and leaders to attend the Foundation Day programme in large numbers and use the occasion to strengthen the organisation, expand the party’s reach and begin the next phase of work with renewed energy and commitment.