Leaders from the two NCP factions took indirect digs at each other on Tuesday, exposing growing internal tensions. NCP, Sharad Pawar faction, MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that Sunetra Pawar was made to take oath as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister against her wishes, in haste, just four days after the plane crash in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on January 28.

Rohit’s remarks are being seen as a veiled attack on leaders close to the late Ajit Pawar, who are allegedly accused of opposing a merger of the two NCP factions. Stung by the comments, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP hit back with an indirect counter. State NCP president Sunil Tatkare questioned why some leaders began speaking about a merger between the two factions on the very day of the plane crash.