NCP Split Impact: Ajit Pawar vs Sharad Pawar in Pune and Beyond for Maharashtra Elections
The 2023 split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar has reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape, particularly influencing upcoming civic polls in Pune and other regions. This division, rooted in ideological differences and alliance strategies, continues to affect electoral dynamics as both factions prepare for municipal elections.
The Origins of the NCP Split
Key Events Leading to the Division
On July 2, 2023, Ajit Pawar, nephew of veteran leader Sharad Pawar, led a significant breakaway from the NCP, joining the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government in Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, along with eight other NCP leaders inducted as ministers. This move formalized the split, creating two factions: one under Ajit Pawar, which retained the NCP name and clock symbol as recognized by the Election Commission, and the other led by Sharad Pawar, renamed NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP-SP.
The split stemmed from strategic disagreements. Sharad Pawar’s faction favored continuing with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance alongside Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), while Ajit Pawar’s group sought alignment with the ruling Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Shiv Sena, and allies for greater political leverage. Sharad Pawar later expressed disappointment, noting that some leaders deviated from the party’s core ideology, though he remained optimistic about future electoral prospects.
Electoral Aftermath in 2024 Assembly Polls
The impact was evident in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, where Ajit Pawar’s NCP secured 41 seats out of 288, significantly outperforming NCP-SP’s 10 seats. This outcome highlighted Ajit Pawar’s stronger organizational hold, especially in western Maharashtra, a traditional NCP stronghold including Pune.
Implications in Pune: A Battleground City
Pune Municipal Corporation and Local Dynamics
Pune, a key urban center with rapid development including metro lines and industries, has long been an NCP bastion. However, the BJP gained control of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in 2017. Post-split, both NCP factions have split influence in the city, with senior leaders aligning variably—many loyalists staying with Sharad Pawar, while ambitious figures joined Ajit Pawar.
In the recent assembly elections, each faction won one seat in Pune, underscoring vote fragmentation. Now, ahead of civic polls, discussions are underway for potential pre-poll alliances between the factions to counter the BJP. NCP-SP leaders in Pune, including city unit members, have conveyed support for such a tie-up to state chief Shashikant Shinde, aiming to avoid a triangular contest that could benefit the BJP. Similar sentiments echo in Pimpri Chinchwad, where local NCP workers from both sides favor collaboration, as seen in their joint effort in Kagal, Kolhapur.
Challenges and Strategies
Despite overtures, Ajit Pawar’s NCP prioritizes the Mahayuti alliance, with state president Sunil Tatkare emphasizing seat-sharing within the ruling coalition first. NCP-SP, meanwhile, plans to contest all municipal corporations independently, positioning itself on civic issues like urban governance. Congress leaders, such as Vijay Wadettiwar, allege that Mahayuti is sidelining Ajit Pawar’s NCP to split secular votes, potentially intensifying intra-alliance tensions.
Beyond Pune: Statewide Ripple Effects
Civic Polls Across Maharashtra
The split’s shadow extends to elections in 29 municipal corporations, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), scheduled for January. NCP-SP has announced its intent to contest everywhere, criticizing Mahayuti’s instability and highlighting Sharad Pawar’s experienced leadership. In western Maharashtra, where NCP historically dominated, the factions’ competition could dilute anti-BJP votes unless reconciled locally.
Potential fronts involving NCP factions, MVA partners like Congress and Sena (UBT), and even smaller parties like MNS are being weighed in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. This “friendly fight” risks turning intense, as both Pawars vie to reclaim influence amid BJP’s development push in growing cities.
Long-Term Political Realignment
The NCP’s fragmentation reflects broader trends in Maharashtra politics: shifting alliances post-2019 MVA government collapse and 2022 Shiv Sena split. Ajit Pawar’s faction benefits from government resources as part of Mahayuti, bolstering its machinery. Sharad Pawar, at 84, relies on ideology and loyalists like Supriya Sule to rebuild NCP-SP.
For Maharashtra elections, particularly civic polls, the Pawar vs Pawar duel in Pune symbolizes the split’s stakes—organizational strength versus ideological appeal. Outcomes here could foreshadow 2029 assembly trends, determining if reconciliation occurs or rivalry deepens, ultimately shaping the state’s power equation.
(Word count: 712)
