A meeting between senior Nationalist Congress Party leaders and Sunetra Pawar, the wife of late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has sparked intense speculation about the party’s future leadership, just hours after his funeral in Baramati.

Senior NCP leaders Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dhananjay Munde met Sunetra Pawar on Thursday. While sources claimed the leaders urged her to consider taking up the deputy chief minister’s post, Bhujbal publicly dismissed such claims, stating that it was merely a courtesy visit and that no political discussion took place following Ajit Pawar’s death in the plane crash on Wednesday.

Adding to the political buzz, senior NCP leader and Maharashtra FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal said that people across the state want Sunetra Pawar to be part of the cabinet.

Sunetra Pawar is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha. With a bye-election due in the Baramati Assembly constituency — a seat Ajit Pawar represented continuously since 1991 — speculation has grown that a member of the Pawar family will be fielded. Political circles are discussing the possible candidature of Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth Pawar or Jay Pawar.

However, for Sunetra Pawar to assume the post of deputy chief minister, she would need to secure a seat either in the legislative assembly or the legislative council.

Leadership vacuum concerns within NCP

Political analysts believe Ajit Pawar’s death has left a significant leadership vacuum within the NCP. Groomed over decades by Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar commanded authority and organisational control that few within the party can replicate.

According to analysts, leaders such as Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel could attempt to position themselves at the helm of the party unless a reunification with the Sharad Pawar-led faction takes place — a development that could dramatically alter the political landscape.

The urgency within the NCP is also being linked to its recent electoral setbacks, particularly in the municipal corporation elections, where the party failed to gain control of key civic bodies such as Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Any prolonged uncertainty, analysts warn, could further weaken the party’s position.

Sharad Pawar faction hints at merger talks

Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP indicated that Ajit Pawar had spoken about resolving differences between the two groups.

The faction’s Maharashtra president said Ajit Pawar had suggested discussions on a possible merger after the completion of local body elections, including Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls scheduled for February 5.

He added that Ajit Pawar wanted both factions to come together and maintain family unity, describing him as an emotional leader who felt it was time to end internal divisions. Whether these efforts move forward now, he said, remains to be seen.

On the question of joining the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, the leader said it was too early to comment, noting that discussions on reconciliation would have to take precedence before any decision on alliances.

Silver prices surged to a historic high in futures trade on Thursday, crossing the Rs 4 lakh per kilogram mark on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), while gold also touched a lifetime high, driven by strong investor demand and firm trends in global markets.

On the MCX, silver futures for March delivery jumped Rs 22,090, or 5.73 per cent, to hit an all-time high of Rs 4,07,456 per kilogram during the session.

Gold futures also saw heavy buying interest. The yellow metal for February delivery surged Rs 14,586, or 8.8 per cent, to touch a new peak of Rs 1,80,501 per 10 grams on the domestic exchange.

Global markets support bullion rally

In the international market, gold futures on the Comex crossed the USD 5,600 per ounce level for the first time. The April delivery contract rose USD 286.6, or 5.4 per cent, to scale a fresh record high of USD 5,626.8 per ounce.

Silver futures on the Comex also advanced sharply, touching a new lifetime high of USD 119.51 per ounce in overseas trade.

Demand, weak dollar and safe-haven buying lift prices

Analysts attributed the sharp rise in silver prices to strong industrial demand and a weaker US dollar, noting that silver has been outperforming gold in recent trading sessions.

They also said continued safe-haven buying amid economic uncertainties and rising geopolitical tensions has supported the sustained rally in precious metal prices globally.

The second day of the Budget Session of Parliament is set to see key developments, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to address the media at Parliament House on Wednesday morning.

The Prime Minister is expected to speak around 10:15 am, ahead of the presentation of the Economic Survey of India 2025–26 in the Lok Sabha later in the day.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to table the Economic Survey at 12 pm in the Lower House. The document provides an overview of the state of the Indian economy, key macroeconomic indicators for the 2025–26 financial year, and an outlook for the coming fiscal.

Prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, the Economic Survey is formulated under the supervision of the Chief Economic Adviser. It serves as an important reference document ahead of the Union Budget, offering insights into growth trends, sectoral performance, and broader economic challenges and opportunities.

Before the tabling of the Economic Survey, the Lok Sabha will take up Question Hour from 11 am to 12 pm.

The Budget Session, which began on Tuesday, is expected to witness discussions on economic priorities, fiscal strategy, and policy direction in the days leading up to the presentation of the Union Budget 2026.