Sharad Pawar, 83, is known for taking surprising decisions in politics from Maharashtra to the country. Old Pawar once again surprised everyone when he shared the seat with Mahavikas Aghadi. Although Sharad Pawar’s party has the lowest support among the three parties, it has a similar number of seats.
After Sharad Pawar got 85 seats under the deal, the question arises: How did Pawar manage to do this? What is Pawar trying to achieve with this?
Is Pawar eyeing the CM chairmanship?
Discussions are afoot about Sharad Pawar, who lost 85 seats from the alliance. Is Sharad Pawar interested in the chief minister’s post? There are two important reasons for having this discussion –
1. Sharad Pawar’s party has the highest victory margin in Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections. NCP (Sharad) fielded candidates in 9 seats and ended up winning 8 seats. If we look at this winning percentage, Sharad Pawar’s party can win 60-70 seats. If that happens, Pawar may have the strongest claim for the chief ministership.
2. Sharad Pawar recently discussed the Chief Minister’s post through Jayant Patil at a rally. This time Pawar did not even announce the name of the chief minister before the elections. The story behind this is an incident during the 2004 election. In 2004, Pawar was announced as the chief minister of the Congress Party before the elections. In 2004, the NCP won 2 more seats than the Congress. Despite this, Pawar handed over the chief minister’s post to the Congress.
Sharad Pawar’s family has not held the CM chairmanship for 30 years. Sharad Pawar last served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1993 to 1995.
Who will be the Chief Minister if given the opportunity?
This is also discussed in political circles. Baramati MP Supriya Sule is the daughter of Sharad Pawar. When Ajit Pawar rebelled, he said I was not a son and therefore would not let me become the chief minister.
Judging from Sharad Pawar’s current political chessboard, if the keys to future power fall into Pawar’s hands, then the path for Supriya to become the Prime Minister is open.
There is also talk in political circles that Sharad Pawar can retain the chief minister’s position on his own. The reason is the betrayal of relatives. Pawar recently had to face betrayal from his nephew and henchmen.
In fact, the results in Maharashtra this time were only 3 days away from the end of the term of the Maharashtra Assembly. In this case, the parties are unlikely to negotiate much in the meantime.
There has been an ongoing dispute between the Shiv Sena (Uddhav) and the Congress party over the seat allocation issue. It made Sharad Pawar stronger.
When did Sharad Pawar surprise you?
Sharad Pawar formed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1999 in opposition to the Congress and formed an alliance with the Congress in 2004. Sharad Pawar has been appointed as a cabinet minister in the Congress government. Even if we put aside the history before 2004, there have been many occasions in the past 20 years when Pawar surprised everyone politically.
In 2006, Pawar first introduced his daughter Supriya into politics. His nephew Ajit didn’t even know this at the time. When Ajit rebels, he brings Supriya into national politics. In 2009, when there were rumors that Supriya would become a minister, Agatha Sangma from the Northeast was appointed as a cabinet minister from her quota.
In 2010, Ajit Pawar was handed the post of deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, bypassing senior leaders. The Congress and the NCP lost the 2014 elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party became the largest party but failed to obtain an absolute majority.
Ally Shiv Cena starts bargaining. To end Shiv Sena’s bargaining chip, Sharad Pawar extended unconditional support to outsiders. Eventually, the Shiv Sena joined the New Democratic Alliance (NDA) and with no party securing a majority, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) once again saw hope from the National Communist Party (NCP).
There were also reports that Sharad Pawar would meet key leaders of the BJP, but Pawar put Uddhav ahead. Pawar joined the government along with Uddhav. In 2023, under pressure from his nephew, Pawar announced his resignation. Ajit was shocked by Pawar’s move.
Ajit Uddhav’s political decisions also come under scrutiny
The political decisions of Ajit Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray will also be scrutinized after the elections. Three years later, Uddhav’s party dissolved. Ajit became a rebel two years ago. Before Maha Vikas Aghadi, Uddhav was in alliance with the BJP. Likewise, Ajit is in Congress alliance with his uncle.
It is said that these two political birds may be flying in the sky now, but they both have a chance to return home.
