Maharashtra's political scene has been shaped by changing alliances and strong family connections. There has been speculation about the possibility of reconciliation between Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Ajit Pawar, after their fallout.
NCP (Ajit Pawar) Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel called Sharad Pawar "our deity" and some media reports highlighted that the party would be happy if both factions came together. "Sharad Pawar is our deity. We have a high degree of respect for him. If the Pawar family comes together, it will make us extremely happy. I consider myself a member of the Pawar family," Patel said.
The call for unification came after Ajit Pawar's mother, Ashatai Pawar, visited the temple town of Pandharpur and expressed her hope for a reunion within the Pawar family. Speaking to reporters outside the Vitthal-Rukmini temple, she said, "I pray for the differences within the Pawar family to be resolved soon. I hope Pandurang grants my wish."
Some media reports showed that Senior NCP Ajit Pawar faction leader Narhari Zirwal said that after the split in June 2023, it felt odd to have left Sharad Pawar. "Now I will go to him and urge him (and Ajit) to come together. Pawar saheb has been relentlessly working for people from different sections of the society. And he continues to do so," Zirwal said.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India (RPI) also expressed support for the idea of a reconciliation between the two Pawars. Reflecting on Ashtabai's prayers in Pandharpur, Athawale shared her wish for their reunion. Media reports quoted Athwale saying: "The experience of a senior leader like Sharad Pawar would be invaluable to the NDA government. He should leave the Congress, which never made him Prime Minister, and instead join the NDA."
What Would The Reunion Signify?
The possible reunion of Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar carries significant consequences for Maharashtra's political landscape and could have far-reaching implications on national politics. The Pawar family has long been a central influence in the state's politics, but since the NCP split, Sharad Pawar's political power has diminished, while Ajit Pawar's alliance with the BJP-led NDA has altered the state's political balance.
While Sharad Pawar remains a prominent figure in the All India Alliance, Ajit Pawar's support for the NDA has created a complex political scenario.
Ajit Pawar, along with his family and senior NCP leaders, visited Sharad Pawar라이브 바카라 residence in New Delhi to wish him on his birthday on December 12. This marked the first personal meeting between the two since the split in 2023, triggering renewed speculation about the future of their relationship.
In the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, the NCP(SP) logged its weakest-ever performance with just 10 seats of the total 288 assembly seats. Ajit Pawar-led NCP, on the other hand, won 41 of the 59 seats it contested, making it the third largest party in the state.
