India, Jan. 31 -- Maharashtra's political landscape, already altered by the sudden death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar earlier this week, witnessed a whirlwind of developments on Saturday as his widow, Sunetra Pawar, was elected to succeed him.

With her swearing-in set for 5 pm, Ajit's uncle Sharad Pawar - patriarch of the political family and founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - dropped a bombshell, claiming that a merger of his faction and Ajit-led NCP was to happen on February 12.

A video claimed to be of a "final" meeting between the uncle-nephew and other top leaders added to the suspense and claims.

The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar and some other Congress leaders three decades ago, was split in 2023 when Ajit t...