Following his impressive electoral debut in Bihar, Prashant Kishor has now drawn attention in Maharashtra's political circles. On Thursday, the Jan Suraaj founder, fresh from his victory in the Bankipur bypoll, met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Sunetra Pawar, sparking fresh speculation in a state known for frequent political realignments.
Kishor spent around five hours with Sunetra Pawar at her official residence, Devgiri, in South Mumbai. This was their second meeting in three months, with the first taking place in May. Sunetra assumed leadership of the NCP after the death of her husband and then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year.
WHY DID PRASHANT KISHOR MEET SUNETRA PAWAR?
NCP general secretary Sanjay Khodke confirmed the meeting but declined to reveal the details of the discussions. It is believed that both the May and Thursday meetings were arranged by Sunetra's son and Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar. Their earlier meeting had drawn criticism from the BJP.
At the time, Parth had downplayed the significance of the interaction, saying Kishor shared a close relationship with the Pawar family.
"Prashant ji is a friend and like a brother... To the best of my knowledge, it has been a few years since he quit the political advisory space. I don't see that changing, but I can assure all those who are interested that we are and will always be available for each other wherever needed," Parth had posted on X.
The exact agenda of the latest meeting remains unclear.
However, its timing—coming shortly after Kishor led Jan Suraaj to victory in Bankipur, a BJP stronghold for more than three decades—is unlikely to please the saffron party. The constituency had been represented by BJP president Nitin Nabin for the previous five consecutive terms.
While describing the meeting as an internal matter of the NCP, BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule cautioned Sunetra Pawar against taking any decision that could create differences within the Mahayuti alliance.
Speculation has grown that the NCP wants Kishor to serve as its political strategist. According to a Times of India report, the party has ended its association with the firm that managed its campaign during the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Although Kishor no longer oversees the daily operations of I-PAC, the political consultancy he founded, he is still believed to play a significant role behind the scenes.
ARE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE NCP AND BJP STRAINED?
The meeting comes at a crucial time for the NCP, as differences with the BJP have surfaced amid speculation about a possible rapprochement between the NDA and Sharad Pawar's faction.
Recently, Sharad Pawar met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde. Sources also told India Today TV that senior leaders of the NCP (SP) held late-night meetings with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month.
Talk of bringing the NCP (SP) into the NDA has reportedly made Sunetra Pawar uneasy. According to sources, the BJP leadership wants both NCP factions to reunite before taking any further steps.
Against this backdrop, Sunetra Pawar's latest meeting with Kishor, held just days after his Bankipur bypoll victory, is being viewed as politically significant rather than a routine interaction.
Sunetra is believed to be looking to strengthen the NCP's political organisation. Having largely focused on social work in Baramati, she entered active politics only in 2024. She lost the Baramati Lok Sabha election to Supriya Sule but later won the Baramati Assembly bypoll in May.
Her consecutive meetings with Kishor have intensified speculation that the NCP is keen to tap into his political expertise as Maharashtra's political landscape continues to evolve.
