Ajit Pawar: Ajit Pawar was soon going to merge both factions of the NCP; a close associate makes a big revelation after his death.

Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28. The NCP leader was cremated with state honors at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati on Thursday. ​​Since Ajit Pawar's death, there have been various speculations regarding his political legacy. Meanwhile, a close associate has made a major revelation, claiming that Pawar was about to merge the two factions of the NCP.

Close associate Kiran Gujar's big revelation

Kiran Gujar, a close associate of the late Ajit Pawar, claimed that he was keen on merging the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and that it was about to happen soon. Two days after the veteran leader's death, Gujar revealed that Ajit Pawar himself had shared this information with him.

Told him five days before the plane crash

Kiran Gujar had been associated with Ajit Pawar since before he entered politics in the mid-1980s. He was a close confidant and trusted aide of the late leader. Now, Kiran Gujar told news agency PTI on Thursday (January 29) that Ajit Pawar had told him about this just five days before the plane crash on Wednesday (January 28).

Both factions contested elections in alliance.

Gujar further said that he was 100 percent keen on uniting the two factions. He told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger was going to happen in the next few days. It is worth noting that during the recent municipal corporation elections, in which both factions contested in an alliance, Ajit Pawar had also told some select journalists that he wanted to merge his party with the NCP (SP).

After contesting the municipal corporation elections together in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad on January 15, both factions had also decided to continue the alliance for the district council elections to be held the following month. Furthermore, Gujar confidently stated that Ajit Pawar had a roadmap ready for the merger and the future of a united NCP. When asked if he had discussed the issue with Sharad Pawar, Gujar said, "Positive discussions were underway with Pawar Saheb, Supriya Tai (Supriya Sule), and other leaders, and there were indications that the senior Pawar would support this move."

Kiran Gujar has been associated with the Pawar family for over 40 years.

He added, "Many positive things were about to happen, but this tragedy struck, and Ajit 'Dada' was taken from us. Now, after his death, it has become even more crucial that both factions come together and work for the betterment of Baramati and the state." Gujar, who has been associated with the Pawar family for over 40 years, was with Ajit Pawar through his various political phases and was considered a close confidant.

Recalling the old days

Recalling his early days, Gujar said that Ajit Pawar was persuaded to enter politics after winning the election for the Chhatrapati Cooperative Sugar Mill in 1981. He said, "Initially, he was hesitant and wanted to focus on his family and farming. However, in the late 1980s, when Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar) became the Chief Minister, there was a need for young leadership in Baramati, and Dada stepped into that role."