PUNE: NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar‘s mother Ashatai expressed her wish for the reunion of her son and her brother-in-law Sharad Pawar.
Speaking in Pandharpur after offering prayers at Vitthal-Rukmini temple Wednesday, she told reporters: “I wished that the differences within the Pawar family end at the earliest. I hope Pandurang answers my prayers.”
Her appeal comes amid ongoing speculation about reconciliation between uncle & nephew following the 2023 split in NCP and the family.
The call for unity within the Pawar family has also been echoed by other members. On Dec 13, Sunanda Pawar, mother of MLA Rohit Pawar, had similarly appealed for the reunion of NCP founder Sharad and Ajit.
Speculation about their reconciliation was fuelled by Ajit’s visit to his uncle’s home in New Delhi on Dec 12, accompanied by his family and senior NCP members, to wish him on his birthday. This marked their first personal meeting since the split.
Reacting to Ashatai’s statement, NCP national working president Praful Patel described 84-year-old Sharad as a father figure. “We went to wish him on his birthday, and we would like to maintain a good relationship with him. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, but if at all they come together again, we will be very happy,” he said.
Union minister of state for social justice and RPI president Ramdas Athawale also voiced support for a reunion. Speaking in Pune, he said: “Ajit Pawar’s mother has offered prayers in Pandharpur for the reunion, and I, too, personally feel that both Pawars should come together. The experience of a senior politician like Sharad Pawar will be valuable for NDA govt. He should leave Congress, which did not make him the PM, and instead join NDA.”
The appeals for reconciliation reflect the influence both Pawars hold in
Maharashtra politics
. While Sharad has remained a towering figure in opposition politics, Ajit Pawar’s alliance with BJP-led NDA has reshaped the state’s political dynamics.
