 "NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar.")
After the victory of NCP (SCP) candidates Nilesh Lanke and Bajrang Sonawane from Ahmednagar and Beed Lok Sabha constituencies, some MLAs of Ajit Pawar-led NCP are trying to re-establish a connection with Sharad Pawar’s party ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, according to a Times of India report.
Lanke and Sonawane had switched from Ajit Pawar to Sharad Pawar’s camp while tickets were being distributed for the Lok Sabha polls.
“Nearly 18 to 19 MLAs (of Ajit Pawar camp) are interested in returning to the party. But for those who stayed with Sharad Pawar in difficult times are important to him and would remain the party’s priority,” Times of India report quoted Karjat-Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, as saying on Wednesday.
However, NCP (SCP) state president Jayant Patil said on Wednesday that the decision to take back such MLAs rests with senior Pawar.
“The Lok Sabha results were out on Tuesday and some are already reflecting upon their decisions. However, we have not given it (return of MLAs) a thought yet. The party will decide after consulting Sharad Pawar,” Patil told Times of India.
Despite receiving support from the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, Ajit Pawar couldn’t secure a win in his hometown, the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, where his wife Sunetra was making her electoral debut.
In July 2023, Ajit Pawar orchestrated a split in the NCP, a party founded by his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in 1999. Despite being backed by 39 MLAs and maintaining a presence in the state government, his faction managed to clinch only the Raigad seat, contested by the incumbent MP and Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare for a second term.
Beyond Baramati, the NCP suffered defeats in Shirur, a constituency previously won by the unified party in 2019, and Osmanabad.
Ajit Pawar had boldly challenged to unseat the incumbent Shirur MP, Amol Kolhe, who had aligned himself with Sharad Pawar.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAccording to the Times of India report, citing sources, discontent among MLAs was palpable when the party got only four seats out of the 48 constituencies to contest in the state.
“Leaders backed Ajit Pawar with the hope that the party will grow once it joins Mahayuti govt…,” a senior NCP leader told Times of India.
Lanke’s and Sonawane win has become a prime example of benefitting from going back to Sharad Pawar.
NCP insiders feel this might compel other leaders to assess their prospects ahead of the state Assembly elections scheduled to be held in the next few months.
“Leaders chose Ajit Pawar over [Sharad] Pawar saheb because they believed they would get better prospects and opportunities. But when the election results show that their party is not doing well, they will reassess their decision and some may think of jumping ship,” a Hindustan Times report quoted a senior NCP leader as saying.
With inputs from agencies