In the intricate tapestry of his six-decade political journey, Sharad Pawar, now at the age of 83, confronts a fresh trial — the arduous task of rebuilding his political faction. Unlike past confrontations with political adversaries, this challenge emerges from his own nephew and former protégé, Ajit Pawar, currently holding the position of Deputy Chief Minister in the Maharashtra government led by the NDA.
On a consequential Tuesday, the Election Commission (EC) deemed Ajit’s NCP faction as the “legitimate” NCP, awarding it the party’s original nomenclature and its symbol, the “clock.”
In its decree, the EC instructed the Pawar-led NCP faction to propose three name preferences for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra. Subsequently, on Wednesday, the EC endorsed the faction’s primary preference, assigning it the moniker “Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar.”
It’s noteworthy that Sharad Pawar is the founder of the NCP, yet Ajit, in a rebellion against him, defected to the NDA in July 2023, accompanied by a faction of party leaders and legislators.
The prevailing query in the state’s political spheres revolves around Pawar’s capability to reshape and rejuvenate his party.
Endowed with political acumen and unwavering diligence, Pawar has persistently maintained a pivotal role in Maharashtra’s political landscape for decades. Even his critics concede to his “never surrender” disposition, refraining from prematurely dismissing him. Observers anticipate his next moves with a common refrain: “Pawar might be facing a setback, but his political prowess is far from extinguished.”
Pawar now prepares for one of the most formidable battles in his career. With the looming Lok Sabha polls, he has a scant couple of months to overhaul his party and execute a robust statewide outreach to garner public endorsement for the party’s renewed identity.
Regarding the EC’s ruling, the state NCP chief, Jayant Patil, acknowledged it as a setback but affirmed their determination to rebound with heightened zeal. He asserted, “We have Sharad Pawar with us. The name Sharad Pawar itself embodies our identity and party.”
Supriya Sule, Pawar’s daughter and NCP working president, declared their intention to challenge the EC’s order in the Supreme Court. The party has initiated consultations with constitutional and legal experts.
Despite the legal skirmish, Pawar’s immediate focus is to fortify his organization for the impending Lok Sabha polls.
A strategist from the Pawar faction within the NCP remarked, “The EC’s directive stripping Sharad Pawar-led NCP of its title and symbol might evoke public sympathy. This sympathy factor could favor Pawar, and we intend to capitalize on it to ensure the resilience of our organization and electoral base in Maharashtra.”
Recalling a poignant moment in October 2019, Pawar held a rally in Satara during the Lok Sabha bypoll, where he delivered a speech drenched in rain. The image of a soaked Pawar defying the rain went viral, generating sympathy for the Maratha stalwart. In that election, NCP candidate Shriniwas Patil triumphed over the BJP’s Udayan Raje Bhosale.
The Satara bypoll coincided with the elections to the 288-member state Assembly. Pawar’s rain-soaked speech was believed to have bolstered the NCP’s prospects in the Assembly polls, securing 54 seats, with ally Congress winning 44. The BJP, along with its ally Shiv Sena, secured 105 and 56 seats, respectively, witnessing a decline from their previous figures.
Subsequently, the Uddhav-led Sena severed ties with the BJP and established the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government alongside the NCP and Congress. Pawar played a pivotal role in crafting the MVA alliance, causing a significant upset for the BJP.
Insiders from the NCP emphasize Pawar’s resilience against numerous challenges, both political and personal, throughout the decades. Despite a diagnosis of oral cancer in 2004, Pawar continued his political engagements even during the treatment, addressing public meetings while adhering to a liquid diet.