In the wake of the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra's political landscape is undergoing a period of uncertainty. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key constituent of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, is now tasked with selecting a successor. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the NCP will need to make a decision regarding Ajit Pawar's successor, and he affirmed his support for whomever the party chooses.

Following Ajit Pawar's death on Wednesday, NCP leaders met with Chief Minister Fadnavis to discuss the way forward. Praful Patel, an NCP leader, clarified that no decision has been made regarding a potential role for Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar's wife. He stated that the decision on Ajit Pawar’s successor would be taken while respecting the sentiments of the people, and that an MLA's meeting would be convened soon.

The NCP legislative party is expected to meet within the next day or two to finalize their choice for the Deputy CM post. While Sunetra Pawar's name is expected to be proposed, there has been no confirmation from the Pawar family. Some NCP leaders have voiced their support for Sunetra Pawar, who is currently a Member of Parliament, to assume a leadership role within the party, with some advocating for her induction into the Maharashtra cabinet. Senior NCP leader Narhari Zirwal noted the desire among many for "Vahini" (Sunetra Pawar) to be brought into the mainstream.

Currently, Chief Minister Fadnavis has taken additional charge of the Finance and Planning portfolios, which were previously held by Ajit Pawar. The NCP intends to submit a formal letter to insist that these portfolios remain under its control, as they were originally assigned to the party under the agreed-upon alliance quota. A formal announcement regarding the Deputy CM post is expected after the official three-day mourning period concludes.

Ajit Pawar's sudden demise has raised questions about the future leadership of his NCP faction and the Deputy Chief Minister's position. His faction of the NCP holds 41 seats in the state assembly and is known for its strong presence in western and northern Maharashtra. Some political analysts have suggested a potential reunification of the two NCP factions. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP holds 40 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly (excluding the deceased leader's own seat of Baramati, now vacant), while the Sharad Pawar faction has 10.

Following the news of Ajit Pawar's death, Sunetra Pawar is expected to contest the assembly seat in Baramati that was vacated by her late husband. While the NCP prepares its formal proposal, the final decision remains with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has begun a formal investigation into the plane crash. Ajit Pawar was among the five people who died in the Learjet 45 crash in Baramati on Wednesday. The crash was so intense that Pawar's body could only be identified by his personal belongings.