Nagpur: Of the 35 constituencies where the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions faced off, the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction emerged victorious in 27, signalling a major shift that will change the dynamics especially in western Maharashtra
The Ajit Pawar faction has managed to win seats across regions such as Vidarbha, Marathwada, north Maharashtra, and the sugarcane belt. In Vidarbha, Ajit’s party won three seats, while it won four in Marathwada and two in Konkan. It’s won nine in all in western Maharashtra including in Pune, Satara, and Kolhapur, which both factions rely on for patronage and forms their core constituency. The Sharad Pawar faction, in comparison, managed to win eight seats: Mumbai (one), Marathwada (2), and five in western Maharashtra.
Satara was considered a Sharad Pawar bastion, but BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP have snatched Karad (north) and Phaltan from NCP(SP). The battle in Baramati was particularly intense. Here, Yugendra Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew, was put up against Ajit Pawar, who had represented the constituency for seven consecutive terms. Despite the senior Pawar’s larger-than-life image and emotional connect, Ajit prevailed by a margin of over one lakh votes, further consolidating his position as a key player in the state politics. Prominent leaders from Ajit camp including Dilip Walse Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde won, while winners from Sharad Pawar’s party included state president Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, his ex-colleague R R Patil’s son Rohit and his grand-nephew Rohit Pawar from Sinkhed Raja.
However, in the overall scheme, Pawar’s influence stands considerably diminished at a time when he has publicly stated that this may well be his last electoral campaign. To bounce back from such a loss may be difficult in the short term. During the campaign in Ambegaon against Walse Patil, Sharad Pawar had urged voters to ensure his defeat, accusing him of betraying the party by joining the Mahayuti alliance. The fact that his emotional appeals did not make a dent on the rival NCP’s prospects are a sign of change. In Vidarbha too, where the two factions contested fiercely, splitting voter loyalties, the Ajit faction managed to win the strongholds.
Constituencies like Anushakti Nagar, Shrivardhan, and Chiplunalso saw resounding wins for Ajit Pawar’s faction. Despite the popularity Sharad Pawar still commands, particularly for his secular agenda and regional pride, the assembly results show that Ajit Pawar has gained significant ground. His pragmatism has resonated with voters, positioning him as a serious contender in state politics.