INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
PUNE: Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar finds himself in a challenging position as his nephew Ajit stakes claim to the name and symbol of the
party the 82-year-old stalwart formed in 1999
Just two months after announcing his decision to step down as party chief, Pawar faces the task of rebuilding NCP, especially as his loyal
supporters begin to desert him.Some speculate that this rebellion may have occurred with Pawar's blessings, as was the case in 2019.Read
AlsoSidelined in party, Ajit Pawar's gameplan to take on uncle Sharad was in works for a yearAjit Pawar had been drafting a strategy to take
on Pawar and cousin Supriya for a year, sources said
personal blow to Sharad PawarThe switch made by Patel, considered Sharad Pawar's most trusted ally, one who has never taken a political
decision without his mentor's knowledge, is being viewed as a personal setback for the NCP president
"I am not upset with anybody except Praful Patel and Tatkare," said Pawar.Critics point to Pawar's body language during Sunday's press
conference, suggesting that there is more to the situation than meets the eye
They suspect that Pawar may play another political move, similar to the "googly" he admitted to orchestrating in 2019.Last week, after three
years of denial, Pawar, the former BCCI chairperson, admitted that the 2019 coup by Ajit was a "googly" he bowled to expose the "party with
a difference" and its top politician Devendra Fadnavis - that they were not averse to having strange bedfellows
"With the 2024 Lok Sabha polls approaching, he will say the same thing about today's development
Another googly," a senior NCP member said in Pune.During the press conference, Pawar denied any prior knowledge of Ajit's move to join the
Shinde-Fadnavis government as deputy CM
He claimed that Ajit and the party's MLAs have deviated from the NCP's political ideology.In 2019 too, when Ajit had joined the short-lived
Fadnavis government, Pawar was busy putting up a united front of NCP, Congress, and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena against BJP
Observers note that Pawar is attempting to strike a balance
On one hand, NCP leaders facing tax and ED cases can now find relief as part of the ruling coalition, while on the other hand, Pawar
continues to build a front against BJP, an NCP politician said."This way, we can buy time, mobilise resources and keep our flock together
under Ajit," he said while acknowledging that this strategy may erode the credibility of his party politicians.Pawar has made it clear that
he intends to avoid a legal battle over the party's symbol and name with Ajit and others
When asked about the future face of NCP, Pawar confidently stated that it would still be him.Pawar draws on his past experiences of
rebuilding the party after major setbacks, such as when 52 out of 58 MLAs deserted his party after the 1980 state elections.Although some
question the viability of rebuilding the party at the age of 82, Pawar remains determined
When asked "who will be the reassuring face of the party in the future", the octogenarian raised his hand and said: "Sharad Pawar."NCP
appoints Awhad as LoP in assemblyNCP appointed Jitendra Awhad as Leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly after incumbent LoP Ajit
Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde government as deputy chief minister on Sunday
The development comes amid a close aide of Pawar saying 36 out of 53 NCP MLAs have extended support to the new deputy CM and the numbers
could go to 46 in a few days time
Awhad, MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa in neighbouring Thane district, said NCP state unit president Jayant Patil had appointed him chief whip of the
robbery, Sharad Pawar on Ajit Pawar joining NDA
