Ajit Pawar's Strategic Rise: The New Power Dynamic in Maharashtra’s Mahayuti Alliance

As the Mahayuti trio takes their oaths on Wednesday, NCP leader Ajit Pawar remains in his role as deputy chief minister. However, Pawar has become a key ally for BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, playing his cards much better than Eknath Shinde, who was absent twice.

The three leaders—Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar—are set to take the oath on Thursday at the iconic Azad Maidan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ahead of the ceremony, the trio met the media, and their interactions revealed how much more tactically Ajit Pawar has positioned himself compared to Shinde. This new version of Ajit Pawar, often called "Ajit Dada" by his supporters, seems far removed from the one who once complained about being stuck as deputy CM.

Ajit Pawar's current position is a far cry from his earlier frustrations. Following a strong showing in the Assembly elections, Pawar has solidified his standing, dispelling any doubts about who leads the NCP. With his uncle Sharad Pawar hinting at stepping away from electoral politics, Ajit has firmly taken control, exuding a new level of confidence and strategic acumen. This has given him an edge over Shinde, the other deputy CM.

After the election results, while Shinde's next move was closely watched, Pawar wasted no time in aligning himself with Devendra Fadnavis, the architect of the Mahayuti alliance’s victory and the clear frontrunner for the CM position, based on the BJP’s mandate.

Ahead of the swearing-in, Pawar's steadfast alliance with Fadnavis was evident. During a media interaction, Shinde was asked about his role in the new government, but Pawar jokingly cut in, saying others might still be unsure, but he was certain of taking the oath as deputy CM. Shinde responded humorously, poking fun at Pawar’s experience with oath-taking, which lightened the mood. However, behind the humor lies a serious political message.

The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Pawar’s NCP, dominated the Maharashtra Assembly elections, winning 236 out of 288 seats. Pawar’s NCP, which contested 55 seats, secured 41, achieving a remarkable 75% success rate—better than the 69% strike rate of Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

Ajit Pawar’s rise is even more notable given the NCP’s poor showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured only one seat. Additionally, Pawar’s loss in the prestige battle in Baramati—where his wife, Sunetra Pawar, was defeated by his cousin, Supriya Sule—could have been a blow. But Ajit Pawar has bounced back in spectacular fashion.

The NCP, under his leadership, has effectively settled the debate over who controls the party. The faction led by Sharad Pawar won just 10 out of 87 seats it contested in the Assembly, diminishing his influence significantly. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar’s success has strengthened his position, and speculations are rife that other former NCP members could soon join his camp.

With Sharad Pawar’s faction now much weaker—holding only 8 Lok Sabha seats, 2 Rajya Sabha seats, and 10 MLAs in Maharashtra—the elder Pawar can only remark, "Ajit Pawar may have won more seats, but people know who founded the NCP."

With the internal NCP rivalry now settled, Ajit Pawar has firmly taken the lead, leaving Shinde trying to navigate his position in the backseat of the Mahayuti government.

-ITS News Desk.