India, March 30 -- Sunetra Pawar today completes two months as Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, a post she took over following the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash on January 28. A month ago, she also took charge as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief. Developments within the party since then suggest she has begun taking control of the party.

But will it be a smooth takeover? There are at least half a dozen leaders who remained loyal to Ajit Pawar when he rebelled against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and split the NCP in 2023. It is now no secret that differences have emerged between some senior leaders and those aligned with Sunetra.

There was surprise in party circles last week after NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar r...