Daijiworld Media Network - Pune

Pune, Jan 30: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was fully committed to merging the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the process was nearing completion before his tragic death, a close associate of the late leader said on Thursday.

Kiran Gujar, who has been associated with Ajit Pawar since before his entry into politics in the mid-1980s, told PTI that Pawar had confided in him about the impending merger just five days before Wednesday’s fatal plane crash.

“He was 100 per cent keen on merging both factions. He told me five days ago that the entire process was complete and the merger would happen in the next few days,” Gujar said.

He recalled that during the recent civic elections, which both NCP factions contested together, Ajit Pawar had also told select journalists that he intended to merge his faction with the NCP (Sharad Pawar) while his uncle Sharad Pawar was in good health.
After jointly contesting the January 15 civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the two factions had decided to continue their alliance for the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections as well.

Gujar said Ajit Pawar had a clear roadmap in place for the merger and the future course of a united NCP. Asked whether discussions had been held with Sharad Pawar, he said positive talks were underway with “Pawar saheb, Supriya Tai (Supriya Sule) and other senior leaders”, and there were indications that Sharad Pawar would endorse the move.

“Many positive developments were on the cards, but this tragedy struck and took Ajit dada away from us. After his death, it has become even more important that both factions come together and work for the betterment of Baramati and the state,” Gujar said.

Associated with the Pawar family for over four decades, Gujar remained with Ajit Pawar through various political phases and was regarded as his close confidant. Recalling Pawar’s early years, Gujar said Ajit Pawar was initially reluctant to enter politics and wanted to focus on farming and family life after winning the Chhatrapati Cooperative Sugar Mill election in 1981.

“However, when Pawar saheb became chief minister in the late 1980s, there was a need for young leadership in Baramati, and Ajit dada fulfilled that role,” he said, adding, “Development will continue, but a leader like Ajit dada will not emerge again.”