How could Pawar, who had supported Ajit, become a political trap for Fadnavis now?
The ongoing political cold war between two key NDA leaders in Maharashtra’s Dangal, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, has become a Headlines. There are two important reasons for this. First, in Ajith’s statement, Fadnavis called him a leader who stands with the anti-Hindu people.
The second reason for discussion was the pre-election friendship between Ajit and Fadnavis. Ahead of the assembly elections, there were a lot of speculations about Ajit joining the NDA through Fadnavis in 2023. The biggest discussion between them was about him leaving NDA and fighting alone.
However, it is said that due to Fadnavis’ advocacy, he got a seat in the NDA. In this context, Fadnavis’s statement against Ajit during the election assumes political significance. From Mumbai to Delhi, people are asking, has Ajit become a political trap for Fadnavis in the NDA?
Fadnavis joins CM competition
Devendra Fadnavis has become politically weak since the Lok Sabha elections but his coin still seems to be in the running. Fadnavis is the only local leader of the BJP and holds 4-4 rallies for his candidates every day. Recently, he was also given a symbolic nomination as chief minister.
In this context, every activity of Ajit is said to have a direct impact on Fadnavis’ political future.
How Ajit became French, 4 points
1. Malik fielded despite opposition from BJP
Nawab Malik is a senior leader of the National Communist Party (NCP). He was a minister in the Maharashtra government but the BJP has been his attacker. The BJP had attacked him several times when he was a minister in the Uddhav government. After leaving the government, the Nawab was accused of taking money from the Daoud gang.
Nawab Malik was jailed in this case. He is currently out on bail. NCP awarded him the symbol of Mankhurd Nagar seat. The BJP does not want Nawab to be its candidate. Ashish Sheral, president of the Mumbai People’s Party, has spoken out against it.
Nonetheless, Ajit gave the symbol to Malik. Malik’s daughter Sana also participated in the Anushakti Nagar battle. Nawab Malik has become a trap for the BJP in Mumbai politics.
2. Raising questions to the opposition in Adani’s name
Ajit Pawar tried to justify the split in the NCP and made statements that put the BJP in a difficult position. In fact, Ajit said in an interview that industrialist Gautam Adani was also present at the meeting between Sharad Pawar and Amit Shah to form the government in 2019.
The Congress and Uddhav Party immediately seized on Ajit’s statement. The opposition accuses Maharashtra of running the government through industrialists. The opposition sees this as a big issue in Mumbai and Dharavi.
After Ajith made this statement, the BJP is busy doing damage control. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis blamed the entire incident on Sharad Pawar.
3. Openly oppose Batenge and Katenge
After the setback in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP also started religious polarization in Maharashtra with the help of “Batenga to Katenga”, but Ajit openly opposed it. Ajith has said in two shows so far that it was against Sabuka Saas, Sabuka Vikas.
The NDA is being shamed because of Ajith’s outspokenness. Seeing Ajit, BJP leaders also started speaking out against it. In this context, some say that the slogan “Batenger to Katenge” should not be mired in internal struggles.
To quell Ajith’s objections, Fadnavis also played a Hindutva role, but Pawar Jr. was not ready to budge on the issue. It is said that Ajit does not want his support base to decline because of this slogan of the BJP.
4. Provide air for caste politics
Ajit Pawar is not far behind in fomenting caste politics. In a recent interview, he even said that I don’t think OBC voters will vote directly for the BJP and Mahayuthy.
Pawar further said that now even the Vanjara community is not accepting the call of the BJP. Earlier, at the behest of Gopinath Munde, they used to vote together.
The BJP is allegedly trying to conduct the entire election on religious grounds. In this case, the party’s problems are likely to increase with the way Ajit has made remarks about religion.
Marathas, Dalits, tribals and OBC communities dominate Maharashtra. Here too, ten percent Brahmins play an important role in victory and defeat.
