BJP-NCP realignment in future? Here's what Narendra Modi's Baramati visit tells us

From calling it a ‘naturally corrupt party’ and to appealing the voters to end the dynastic politics four months ago, looks like Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gone a long way. On Saturday, the Prime Minister showered praise on NCP chief Sharad Pawar for his work in agriculture and thanked Pawar for his help during the UPA regime. It has now assumed the much political significance and the political circles are abuzz with the outcome of visit and the new political equations in state. [caption id=“attachment_2099541” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  NCP chief Sharad Pawar with PM Narendra Modi in Baramati on Saturday. PTI[/caption] Modi visited the Vidya Pratishthan, run by the Pawars and inaugurated the Appasaheb Pawar Auditorium named after Sharad Pawar’s brother, an influential leader of the sugar cooperative movement in western Maharashtra, bastion of NCP. “Pawar’s experience is helpful in running the government. Now, being in power, it is my duty to seek his advice. Though we are in different political parties with different agenda, our aim of progress of nation is the same and above the party,” he said. Revealing for the first time, Modi said, “As Gujarat CM, I faced problems, including those from the union government. I then used to call Pawar was the only one who helped me out keeping politics aside. Never a month passed when we didn’t talk 2-3 times.” Apart from visiting Vidya Pratishthan, he also inaugurated a Centre for Excellence for Vegetables at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, a Central government undertaking and also had a lunch with Pawar. Pawar, who raised the issue of sugarcane and dairy farmers, also clarified that there are no political motives behind it. He also extended his support to Modi for the developmental work. Political observers say that it clearly showed that Pawar had tacit understanding with the BJP before the assembly elections and he broke the alliance with Congress immediately after BJP announced it. Pawar is known to play such political games and keep everyone guessing. While there may be talks of political realignment in state, he might actually be attempting to settle the corruption cases against senior NCP leaders including his nephew and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, former minister Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal and other leaders, they say. In December, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led Maharashtra government has given the nod for an open inquiry by the anti corruption bureau against Ajit Pawar, Tatkare in the alleged 70,000 crore irrigation scam and against Bhujbal in Maharashtra Sadan construction scam. During the assembly election rally in October last year, he termed the NCP as a ‘Naturally Corrupt Party’ and had appealed the voters to end the dynastic politics by defeating Ajit Pawar. Equating Pawar family’s grip over Baramati to slavery, Modi had also asked the people free the Baramati of uncle-nephew rule and throw out the politicians who poke fun at people seeking water. However, despite all this, NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar won the election, for fifth time, with highest vote margin in the entire state. Modi was the only national leader to address a rally in Baramati since 1980 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi spoke there after Pawar raised the banner of revolt within Congress. Following the assembly election results, the political equations changed drastically after Pawar extended unconditional outside support to the BJP for ‘stable government’. However, NCP decided to sit in opposition following the Shiv Sena’s decision to join the BJP government.