Maharashtra polls done and dusted, calls from both NCP factions for ‘reunion’; Praful Patel says Sharad Pawar ‘our deity’

Ajit Pawar's mother offers New Year prayers seeking unity, senior leaders from both sides, including BJP, say matter up to family, they have no objections

4 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 2, 2025 09:52 AM IST

praful patel, sharad pawar, maharashtra elections 2024, indian express

Praful Patel, a senior member of the NCP led by Ajit, said: ''Sharad Pawar is our deity. (Express Archives)

Among the many prayers made on New Year’s Day, one stands out in Maharashtra. On Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s mother Asha Pawar visited the temple town of Pandharpur and, in her own words, prayed for the reunion of Ajit and his uncle and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

“All disputes should end… Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar should reunite,” Asha Pawar told reporters after visiting the Vithal-Rukmini temple in the temple town, adding that she had also prayed for “all wishes of Ajit Pawar” to come true.

While some would argue that the two wishes are irreconcilable, Asha isn’t the only one wishing for “reunion” less than a month after the Maharashtra election results gave Ajit an edge over Sharad Pawar, under whose shadow the nephew had long stayed — and finally rebelled against.

Must Read | What next for Sharad Pawar after Ajit wins the battle of NCP, takes the bragging rights

Praful Patel, a senior member of the NCP led by Ajit, said: ”Sharad Pawar is our deity. We have a high degree of respect for him. If the Pawar family comes together, it will make us extremely happy. I consider myself a member of the Pawar family.”

Narhari Zirwal, an NCP MLA, echoed the same, saying “it felt odd to have left Sharad Pawar saheb (after the split in June 2023).” “Many feel likewise. Now I will go to him and urge him (and Ajit) to come together. Pawar saheb has been relentlessly working for people from different sections of the society. And he continues to do so.”

NCP spokesperson Amol Mitkari said the uncle-nephew duo could come together if “both make the effort”. But, he added, some NCP (SP) leaders like Jitendra Awhad (Sharad Pawar’s key aide) and Rohit Pawar (Sharad Pawar’s grand nephew) might be a “hurdle” in that. “They will never like the two coming together… But Asha tai’s prayers are the prayer of every karyakarta of both NCP groups…We all feel we should come together,” said Mitkari.

Also Read | Fadnavis and Pawars to Shinde, Uddhav, Patole: A make-or-break for major players in Maharashtra polls

Asked about this, Ahwad said it was not within his prerogative to make any decision regarding this, and that the Pawars would have to decide for themselves. ”If Asha Pawar is saying that Pawars should come together, then what can I say? It is their family matter. They will have to take the call…What I think does not matter,” he said.

Story continues below this ad

No, NCP ally BJP would have no problems, said BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule. If the two Pawars were coming together, there was “no reason” for the BJP to “object” to the same, he said. “They have to decide.”

Ajit had split from the NCP in June 2023, taking 40 MLAs with him, later joining hands with the BJP and Shiv Sena and become a part of the Mahayuti government.

In the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November, the NCP (SP) led by Sharad Pawar finished the last among the six major parties in the fray, winning only 10 of the 86 seats it contested. The two NCPs squared off against each other in 36 constituencies, with the NCP winning 29, including the Pawar clan turf of Baramati.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 09: Latest News

Live Blog