Ajit Pawar can finally and emphatically declare victory over his uncle Sharad Pawar. But it might be a pyrrhic win as it will not deliver to him the one job he has coveted all his life: the chief minister’s gaddi. A case of ever the bridesmaid never the bride.
BJP’s spectacular performance along with Shinde’s stellar turn means the spoils of the victory will go mainly to them. Ajit will, perhaps, have to settle for deputy CM’s post, yet again.
Since 2019 he has taken oath as deputy chief minister thrice under three chief ministers. But the top job has proved to a leap too far, for now.
Chafing at his eternal No 2 status under his uncle’s overarching shadow, he finally broke ranks with him to join the BJP, Shiv Sena combine in July 2023. He put his political career on line by leading NCP in the last LS elections, especially, when his decision to field his wife against his cousin Supriya Sule came a cropper. The assembly results are, thus, a vindication but it’s a victory he, perhaps, might not savour much.
While the CMship might be out of reach he will savour the fact that he has bested his uncle almost 4:1 with his NCP winning 40 seats to Sharad Pawar’s 10.
Born in Pune district’s Baramati tehsil, which his uncle turned into Pawar family’s bastion, Ajit Pawar is the elder son of Anantrao, Sharad Pawar’s older brother. He started his political career by contesting and winning 1991 LS polls.With his uncle focused on national politics Ajit went about building his power base in the state.
Later, when Pawar Sr decided to go to the Centre, Ajit vacated the seat for him and contested the assembly election from Baramati. He hasn’t looked back, since. Taking on a family member this time, his nephew Yugendra, he won convincingly on Saturday.
Ajit’s political career is littered with controversies. Biggest was when his name cropped up in an alleged irrigation scam running into Rs 70,000 crore. His facing an inquiry in this case was attributed by political observers as a prominent reason for him to join hands with the BJP.
When he split NCP in July 2023 he got senior NCP members like Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, and Hasan Mushrif -close associates of Sharad Pawar -to switch sides. He not only got the official title to the party but also the symbol.
With voters endorsing that he indeed represents NCP, with his uncle and stalwart of Maharashtra politics, Sharad Pawar, humbled, Ajit can now channel his considerable talents towards his ultimate goal – CM of Maharashtra.