Talks within the Nationalist Congress Party have sharpened around Parth Pawar’s parliamentary ambitions, with party insiders indicating that the son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is keen on a Rajya Sabha seat presently held by Sharad Pawar, while showing little interest in stepping into the Upper House through the seat vacated by his mother, Sunetra Pawar.According to party functionaries familiar with internal deliberations, Parth Pawar’s preference is driven by timing and tenure rather than symbolism. The Rajya Sabha seat associated with Sharad Pawar could become available around April 2026, depending on political and organisational decisions taken closer to that period. By contrast, Sunetra Pawar’s seat, from which she resigned before completing the formalities following her election, would offer only a truncated term, something Parth Pawar is said to view as strategically limiting at this stage of his career.
Parth Pawar, a former Lok Sabha member from the Maval constituency, has largely remained out of electoral politics since his defeat in the 2019 general election. Over the past year, however, he has been increasingly visible at party events and internal meetings, fuelling speculation about a carefully planned return to frontline politics. Senior leaders say a Rajya Sabha entry is being considered as a way to reintroduce him to national politics without the uncertainties of a direct electoral contest.
The calculus around a “full term” in the Upper House carries weight within the party. A six-year Rajya Sabha tenure allows space to build legislative experience, develop policy expertise, and establish a national profile. A partial term, by contrast, would require an early re-election bid, compressing the time available to consolidate standing within Parliament and the party’s national structure.
Sunetra Pawar’s election to the Rajya Sabha last year was widely seen as part of a broader political realignment following the split within the Nationalist Congress Party. Her subsequent decision not to proceed with the term created an opening, but one that insiders say was never intended as a stepping stone for Parth Pawar. “From his perspective, it would look like a stopgap arrangement rather than a planned political move,” said a senior party leader who requested anonymity.
Attention has therefore shifted to Sharad Pawar’s seat, which carries both political heft and symbolic value within the party. Sharad Pawar, the party’s founder and one of Maharashtra’s most influential political figures, has used his Rajya Sabha position to remain active in national debates despite advancing age. While there is no formal announcement regarding his plans, discussions within party circles have included scenarios in which he could choose to vacate the seat ahead of the end of the term, triggering a by-election.
Such a move would not be without precedent in Maharashtra politics, where senior leaders have occasionally made way for successors to ensure continuity and manage succession within party ranks. For Parth Pawar, inheriting a seat long associated with the Pawar political legacy would carry both opportunity and pressure, placing him firmly back in the spotlight.
The issue also intersects with the delicate balance between different factions of the Nationalist Congress Party. Ajit Pawar’s group, now aligned with the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, has been keen to project stability and organisational discipline. Elevating Parth Pawar through a well-timed Rajya Sabha entry is seen by some leaders as part of a longer-term plan to secure the family’s political future within the reconfigured party.
At the same time, party strategists are aware that any decision involving Sharad Pawar’s parliamentary position would have wider ramifications. His continued presence in the Rajya Sabha is viewed by many workers as a source of guidance and legitimacy, particularly at a time when the party is navigating ideological and organisational challenges following the split.