Mumbai: Senior NCP leader Praful Patel paid tribute to late leader Ajit Pawar, saying his passing was a major loss for the party and the state. He said Ajit Pawar, who came from a common family background, had built a strong identity in Maharashtra and across the country through his work. Patel also recalled that Ajit Pawar became president of the Nationalist Congress Party in 2023. During the party’s national meeting, Sunetra Pawar was unanimously appointed as the new national president after Patel proposed her name, while Parth Pawar is likely to be given an important responsibility in the party soon.
Patel said Ajit Pawar’s death on January 28 shocked party workers and raised questions about the party’s future, but he expressed confidence that the organization would move forward strongly under Sunetra Pawar’s leadership. Several senior leaders, including Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal, attended the meeting. He added that despite criticism from outsiders, the party has taken timely decisions and will now continue its journey by following Ajit Pawar’s ideals and working together under the new leadership