“Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise has created such a void in Maharashtra’s politics that it’s going to not be crammed for a very long time,” Union Residence Minister Amit Shah stated on Thursday (January 29, 2026). The assertion is true in a couple of sense. The lack of a mass chief who commanded a robust place in Maharashtra’s politics, has successfully created a chance of a tripolar Mahayuti being become a bipolar alliance, with solely Eknath Shinde rising as a robust regional power on Maharashtra’s political panorama.

For NCP, which has garnered its legislative power on the idea of its rural voter base primarily in western Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar was the mass chief who held a clout and heft inside a celebration which is a conglomeration of regional satraps introduced collectively below one umbrella.

“His management was acceptable to everybody. He held everybody collectively and the celebration functioned easily. I don’t know what’s going to occur now,” a senior chief stated. Together with his demise, every satrap will possible have his personal particular person aspiration.

Whereas each the factions of NCP have spoken of the reunification of the events and of Pawar household, that path isn’t straightforward both. There are two large questions which must be answered. One NCP is already part of the ruling alliance of Mahayuti, and is firmly sitting as an NDA associate. Will Sharad Pawar resolve to depart the secular credentials to affix palms with the BJP, is the primary query. And whether or not the BJP will need to belief Sharad Pawar the way in which it trusted Ajit Pawar is one other query.

“It’s a writing on the wall. Each the NCPs will reunite and Pawar Saaheb will go together with the BJP. There isn’t a INDIA Bloc, no Maha Vikas Aghadi,” a Congress chief stated.

One other senior chief stated that the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar had raised questions on the way forward for Pawars’ management, and the destiny of a regional celebration like NCP.

Whereas leaders throughout the spectrum stated that it’s Sharad Pawar who will take a name for deciding the way forward for the events, the inner household and political dynamics inside NCPs will even be a key issue. Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s son, is a political novice. Supriya Sule has been in nationwide politics. Sunetra Pawar is more likely to emerge because the darkish horse, celebration sources indicated. However questions stay on whether or not she’s going to have the ability to maintain the celebration collectively strongly, the way in which her husband Ajit Pawar did. Rohit Pawar, although a bit extra politically skilled than Parth, is unlikely to be a unanimous alternative, stated celebration sources.

“One of many potentialities can also be that the senior leaders may depart the celebration and be a part of the BJP, amid this complete flux,” stated famend journalist P. Sainath.

“The merger determination isn’t a call of the 2 events alone anymore. The BJP high management will even must be taken into confidence for it,” a senior chief stated.

The premature demise of Ajit Pawar is slated to have long run implications on Maharashtra politics.