Ajit Pawar’s NCP Wins Big in Maharashtra Elections
The Maharashtra assembly election results have highlighted a significant political shift, with Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) outperforming Sharad Pawar’s faction, NCP(SP). Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which is part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, secured a remarkable victory by winning 41 out of the 59 seats it contested. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) managed to win only 10 seats, making this one of its poorest performances.
Despite securing more votes in terms of percentage, Sharad Pawar’s party couldn’t convert this support into seats, whereas Ajit Pawar’s NCP established itself as a key player in Maharashtra’s ruling coalition.
Key Highlights from the Elections
1. NCP vs. NCP: Family Feuds and Major Wins
The election saw a direct face-off between members of the Pawar family and other prominent leaders of the NCP factions:
- Ajit Pawar defeated his nephew Yugendra Pawar, backed by Sharad Pawar, by over 1 lakh votes.
- In Aheri, Dharmarao Atram of Ajit Pawar’s NCP triumphed over his own daughter Bhagyashree, who represented Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP).
- Prominent leader Chhagan Bhujbal from Ajit Pawar’s faction won against Manikrao Shinde of NCP(SP) in Yeola.
- Maharashtra Deputy Assembly Speaker Narhari Zirwal retained his Dindori seat, defeating Sunita Charoskar of NCP(SP).
These victories reflect Ajit Pawar’s growing influence within Maharashtra politics.
2. Notable Battles and Results
Several key constituencies witnessed intense battles between the two factions:
- Mumbai’s Anushaktinagar: Sana Malik, daughter of former minister Nawab Malik, defeated NCP(SP) candidate Fahad Ahmad, in a highly publicized contest.
- Shrivardhan: Minister Aditi Tatkare from Ajit Pawar’s camp defeated Anil Navgane of NCP(SP).
- Ambegaon: Cabinet Minister Dilip Walse Patil defeated Devdutt Nikam of NCP(SP).
Other significant victories for Ajit Pawar’s camp include triumphs in Shirur, Pimpri, Akole, and Kopargaon constituencies.
3. Vote Share Comparison
Although Ajit Pawar’s faction won more seats, Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) secured a slightly higher vote share:
- NCP(SP): 11.28% of total votes.
- Ajit Pawar’s NCP: 9.01% of total votes.
This indicates that while Sharad Pawar’s faction retained support in certain areas, it struggled to secure wins due to the BJP’s strong alliance and Ajit Pawar’s strategic campaigning.
4. Impact of Alliances
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes Ajit Pawar’s NCP, emerged as the dominant force. The alliance secured a total of 235 seats in the Maharashtra assembly:
- BJP: 132 seats, the single-largest party.
- Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction): 57 seats.
- Ajit Pawar’s NCP: 41 seats.
On the opposition side, the Congress-led coalition had a poor showing with just 49 seats. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, Congress secured 16, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) won only 10 seats.
Political Revival for Ajit Pawar’s Faction
Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction has made a strong comeback after a lackluster performance in the Lok Sabha elections. His decision to break away from Sharad Pawar’s leadership last year and join hands with the BJP seems to have paid off. Ajit Pawar now holds the position of Deputy Chief Minister in the Eknath Shinde-led government, solidifying his influence within Maharashtra politics.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar, once a towering figure in Indian politics, faces challenges in reviving his faction after this significant setback.
Why This Election Matters
The Maharashtra assembly elections have reshaped the political landscape of the state. The results highlight the impact of strategic alliances and internal party dynamics. Ajit Pawar’s ability to leverage his faction’s association with the BJP-led Mahayuti has clearly worked in his favor.
For the opposition, the results underline the need to regroup and rethink their strategies, especially as they face a dominant BJP alliance in the state.
