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The recent Maharashtra assembly elections witnessed a dramatic showdown within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), culminating in a resounding victory for Ajit Pawar, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in state politics and decisively breaking away from the shadow of his uncle, Sharad Pawar. Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP secured a significant win, capturing 29 seats in the assembly, a stark contrast to the performance of his uncle's faction, the NCP (SP). This victory not only demonstrated Ajit Pawar's electoral prowess but also significantly strengthened his position within the Mahayuti alliance. His personal triumph was particularly noteworthy, securing his own seat with a considerable margin, showcasing the strength of his support base.
This win marks a significant turnaround from the less successful Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. The earlier campaign, where Ajit Pawar fielded his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against his cousin Supriya Sule in Baramati, proved to be a strategic misstep, resulting in a defeat. This decision, later admitted by Ajit Pawar himself to have been a mistake, raised concerns about his political judgment and briefly cast a shadow over his prospects. However, the assembly election results effectively countered these doubts, showcasing a remarkable ability to recover from setbacks and adapt his strategy for success.
Ajit Pawar's victory in Baramati, a family stronghold, carries immense symbolic weight. He not only managed to retain the constituency but also decisively defeated his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, from the NCP (SP) faction, by an overwhelming margin of 1,00,899 votes. This win comes despite intense campaigning from Sharad Pawar against him, underscoring Ajit Pawar's remarkable popularity and strong organizational capabilities within his constituency. The election outcome firmly establishes his independent political identity and weakens Sharad Pawar's influence, marking a significant turning point in the intra-family political dynamics of the Pawar family.
Ajit Pawar's political journey has been marked by both ambition and controversy. His three terms as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister since 2019, along with two previous stints in Congress-NCP led governments before 2014, highlight his influence and long-standing presence in state politics. The much-discussed 2019 incident, where he briefly served as Deputy CM alongside Devendra Fadnavis in a short-lived BJP-NCP alliance, followed by his later return as Deputy CM in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray, clearly illustrates the complex and unpredictable nature of his political maneuvering. His most recent move, joining the Eknath Shinde-BJP government last year and splitting the NCP, caused a significant political earthquake in Maharashtra, once again demonstrating his strategic acumen and willingness to take calculated risks.
Ajit Pawar's success also underscores the significance of his lineage and his inherited political capital. As the son of Anantrao Pawar, Sharad Pawar's elder brother, he entered politics in 1982, initially through his involvement in a sugar cooperative. Following in his uncle's footsteps, Ajit quickly rose through the ranks, leveraging his family connections while simultaneously building his own power base. However, unlike his uncle, he has shown a willingness to forge alliances across party lines, showcasing flexibility and adaptability that may have contributed to his recent electoral triumph. The victory in Baramati and the significant gains made by his faction of the NCP are not just a testament to Ajit Pawar's political skill; they are also a reflection of the changing political landscape of Maharashtra and a significant chapter in the ongoing power struggles within the Pawar family.
Looking ahead, Ajit Pawar's position within the Mahayuti alliance is significantly strengthened. His influence within the state government is likely to increase considerably, and the recent election results will almost certainly reshape the power dynamics of Maharashtra politics for the foreseeable future. Whether he will finally achieve his long-held ambition of becoming the Chief Minister remains to be seen, but the recent assembly elections have undoubtedly propelled him closer to achieving this goal. This election serves as a significant marker in his political career, marking a decisive break from his uncle's shadow and establishing Ajit Pawar as a formidable force in his own right within the state's political arena.
Source: Ajit Pawar Defies Uncle Sharad Pawar’s Shadow; Wins Big In Baramati