Real Estate Maharashtra
Ajit Pawar's Sudden Death: Implications for Maharashtra Politics
2026-01-28 · Geosquare
The sudden death of Ajit Pawar has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political circles. Pawar, who served as the deputy chief minister and was the head of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has left a significant void in the state's political arena. The NCP, with its 41 MLAs in the state assembly, is a key constituent of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Pawar's influence was particularly strong in western and northern Maharashtra, and he was a prominent leader among the Maratha community, a dominant force in the state’s politics. His death is expected to have far-reaching consequences, both in the short and long term.
At least in the immediate term, Pawar’s death is unlikely to affect the stability of the BJP-led Mahayuti government, which currently holds 230 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly. The NCP MLAs who supported Pawar when he rebelled against his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar and joined the BJP-led coalition in 2023 are likely to continue their support. The political compulsions that led them to join the coalition still exist, and the BJP will work to ensure that the party’s leadership remains aligned with the ruling alliance.
Before Ajit Pawar’s death, there were concerns within the BJP that he and Sharad Pawar were moving towards reconciliation. The two factions of the NCP had even contested a few recent local body elections together. However, Pawar’s death has cast doubt on any possible merger or reconciliation. A senior NCP (SP) legislator commented, “While Ajit dada had a soft corner for his uncle and was inching back towards him, other leaders, including his son Parth, are unlikely to have such a leaning. This could adversely affect any plans for a merger.”
The BJP leaders who supported Ajit Pawar when he split the NCP will now try to ensure that the party’s control remains with someone willing to continue the alliance with the BJP. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had an excellent rapport with Pawar, will miss his cooperation and administrative skills. “Compared to Eknath Shinde, Ajit dada was a much less troublesome ally,” a senior BJP minister remarked. “He was cooperative and well aware of his limitations. Fadnavis will miss this cooperation.”
Ajit Pawar’s death also comes as a setback for the BJP’s plans to control western Maharashtra, a stronghold of Sharad Pawar. His joining the Mahayuti was one of the reasons why the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) fared poorly in the 2024 assembly elections. His strong presence in the cooperative sector and among the Maratha community was a significant asset to the ruling alliance.
The major question now is whether the NCP will remain a strong political force. Most of the party’s legislators chose to side with Ajit Pawar because of his leadership. Sharad Pawar, nearing the twilight of his career, had seen Ajit as his successor. “None of the current probables who can assume the leadership of the party come even close to Ajit in terms of leadership capabilities,” a senior NCP leader noted. “This could lead to several MLAs shifting to parties that better suit their interests, such as the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, the BJP, or parties in the Opposition.”
Political analyst Padmabhushan Deshpande stated, “Ajit Pawar’s death has disturbed the balance of Maharashtra politics. If the NCP disintegrates, there could be a void that other parties might try to fill.” The BJP could have an advantage, but aggressive parties such as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) could also gain if the NCP is on the decline.
Ajit led a party with a strong rank and file in the areas it dominates. After him, if the party is not headed by someone of his caliber, there are chances that the party cadre and local leaders would prefer other options. It is not clear how long Sharad Pawar will remain politically active, and the Congress, despite its potential, does not seem capable of filling the void. Someone like Uddhav Thackeray could occupy the space.
The political landscape in Maharashtra is now more uncertain than ever, and the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of the NCP and the overall political dynamics of the state.