Shirsat questions NCP’s ‘hasty’ political moves amid state mourning

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Shiv Sena cabinet minister Sanjay Shirsat on Saturday expressed strong reservations regarding the swift political developments within the NCP following the death of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, stating that such moves should have been deferred until the conclusion of official mourning period.Reflecting on the events of the past two days, Shirsat lamented the current state of political priorities. "The recent developments make me feel that chairs have become more important than people. In politics, positions are being won, but the public's trust is being lost," he told reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.Shirsat emphasised that the general public views such hurried transitions unfavourably. "I believe these decisions should not have been made before the govt's official mourning period had ended," he added.Following the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Jan 28, the state govt declared a three-day period of official mourning. However, on Friday — the final day of mourning — the NCP saw a flurry of internal activity aimed at positioning Pawar's wife, Sunetra, as his successor.Commenting on the role of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shirsat suggested that the veteran leader's recent indicative statements imply he does not wish to be consulted on the internal affairs of the rival faction. "It is difficult to gauge how much Sharad Pawar is truly aware of the decisions being made by those party leaders and their political advisors," Shirsat said.The minister also pointed out a significant shift in the NCP's internal dynamics. He observed that while Ajit Pawar once held absolute authority within the party, the vacuum left by his passing has altered the landscape. "Ajit Pawar was the head of the NCP, and no leader had the strength to go against his word. But the situation has changed. A 'wind of collective decision-making' has started. This is perhaps why Sharad Pawar expressed doubts over the possibility of unifying the two NCP factions," Shirsat said.Despite his personal critique of the timing, Shirsat clarified that his party's official position aligns with that of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the NCP's internal matters."Ultimately, the MLAs of the NCP must make their own decisions. We need to respect and support the path they choose. We will not oppose their internal party decisions," he said.