2nd core committee meeting in 2 days: NCP to push for faster probe into Ajit Pawar’s death

NCP insiders said party members also discussed taking a delegation to meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis after Diwali to urge him to expedite the probe. The top leadership did not take up contentious internal issues

MUMBAI: Amid reports of internal differences among leaders, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) convened a third meeting in three days—its second core committee meeting, on Wednesday. While the latest meeting was held to press for the early completion of the investigation by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the death of former NCP president and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, insiders said the assembly is being seen as yet another attempt by the party to display a show of strength.

2nd core committee meeting in 2 days: NCP to push for faster probe into Ajit Pawar’s death

NCP insiders said party members also discussed taking a delegation to meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis after Diwali to urge him to expedite the probe. The top leadership did not take up contentious internal issues.

A leader added, “After meeting the CM, party members will also submit a reminder urging him to initiate a CBI investigation into the case.”

Following suspicions raised by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar over the circumstances surrounding the plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar, the NCP sought a CBI probe during a meeting with Fadnavis on February 17. The demand was made in addition to the ongoing CID investigation into the high-profile case.

Rohit Pawar alleged possible sabotage may have led to the crash and has been demanding a comprehensive investigation by an independent agency.

In February 2024, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) sought an urgent hearing in the SC. The petition challenged the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to recognise the Ajit Pawar-led rival faction as the real NCP and allot it the party name and symbol. The request for an urgent listing came a day after Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar ruled that the Ajit Pawar faction was the real NCP.

Since Sunetra Pawar took over the reins of the party following her husband Ajit Pawar’s death, NCP has been grappling with an internal power struggle. Six senior leaders recently met Union home minister Amit Shah, where they reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership’s style of functioning. The meeting took place in the absence of party president Sunetra Pawar and her son, Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar, who has been seeking to consolidate his control over the organisation by appointing close aides to key positions.