The Pawar puzzle: Can he make a comeback? |
With contentious legislation on parliamentary delimitation set to dominate the session and Maharashtra’s political equations in flux, Pawar’s next move could determine not only the future of the NCP but also the balance of power in one of India’s most politically significant states
As the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins, Sharad Pawar, the leader of the NCP, faces internal conflicts within his party. There could be political changes first in Maharashtra, and then the merged NCP could ally with the BJP.
Pawar is known as a political survivor because he has often saved his party from disappearing. He is skilled at forming unexpected alliances, such as the 2019 Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance with Shiv Sena and Congress. He also has a strong grassroots network in Maharashtra. Even after the tragic loss of his nephew, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash, and ongoing power struggles within his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), he still has significant influence in both national and regional politics.
In July 2023, the political climate in Maharashtra worsened when Ajit Pawar left the NCP to join the BJP-Shiv Sena government. Soon after, the Election Commission recognised Ajit Pawar’s group as the official NCP. In response, Sharad Pawar started a new party called the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Now, Maharashtra has two rival parties, both claiming the same political legacy. This session arrives at a critical........