Sunetra Pawar's Deputy CM Oath Sparks Pawar Family Stir, Merger Talks Intensify

• Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar's wife and Rajya Sabha MP, is set to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister today at 5 PM.
• Sharad Pawar expressed unawareness of Sunetra Pawar's oath, stating the decision was internal to the party.
• A meeting of three generations of the Pawar family, including Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Rohit Pawar, is underway at Govind Baug in Baramati.
• Sharad Pawar revealed that a merger of both NCP factions was planned for the 12th, with Ajit Pawar having held 14 meetings for it.
• Speculation arises that Sunetra Pawar's swift appointment as Deputy CM is a move by Ajit Pawar's faction to counter the merger.

Why It Matters: Sunetra Pawar's Deputy CM oath ignites a new power struggle and intensifies NCP merger discussions.