Parth Pawar, the son of former NCP chief late Ajit Pawar, is likely to be nominated as the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, party sources said.
The decision was reportedly taken during a late-night core committee meeting held in Mumbai on Monday. The meeting, convened at the residence of senior leader Praful Patel, was attended by key office-bearers including state president Sunil Tatkare and other members of the party’s core committee. With Sunetra Pawar present at the meeting, the committee is understood to have formally endorsed Parth Pawar’s name for the Upper House.
Sources said the leadership also reviewed preparations for the party’s national executive meeting scheduled to be held at Worli Dome in the coming days. The meeting is expected to clear the way for Sunetra Pawar’s elevation as the NCP’s national president, with formal ratification likely on February 26.
In the broader Rajya Sabha contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to secure four seats. According to sources, the BJP has already finalised the candidature of Ramdas Athawale. Of the remaining three seats within the party’s quota, one is likely to be allocated to an ally from the Republican Party of India (RPI).
Discussions are also underway within the BJP–Shinde Sena alliance. From the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde, Rahul Shewale is widely seen as a frontrunner for a Rajya Sabha nomination.
Additionally, the names of Shaina NC and Sanjay Nirupam have surfaced in political circles amid ongoing discussions over seat allocations.
This comes at least a week after Parth Pawar was given a clean chit in a probe into alleged irregularities surrounding a land transaction in Maharashtra, sources said. A committee led by a senior IAS officer reportedly found no connection between Parth Pawar and the deal. However, the panel is understood to have recommended strict action against two government officials. The report has been submitted to Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
The development, which has not yet been officially made public, comes as a significant relief to the Pawar family following Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28. His wife, Sunetra Pawar, has since assumed office as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister. Political circles are also abuzz with speculation that Parth Pawar may be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
Last week, amid reports suggesting that Parth Pawar had been cleared of wrongdoing, Bawankule had stated that he had not yet received the inquiry report. While it is now confirmed that the document has been submitted to the minister, its findings have not been officially disclosed.
The case relates to the sale of a government-owned land parcel measuring approximately 40 acres. The plot, reportedly valued at around Rs 1,800 crore, was allegedly sold for Rs 300 crore to a company said to be linked to Parth Pawar. Reports had also flagged discrepancies in the execution of the sale deed, claiming that although Rs 21 crore was payable, only Rs 500 was actually paid.
