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Maharashtra elections 2024: For Ajit Pawar, it’s the dawn of a new era. For Sharad Pawar, it’s the twilight hour, one that might hasten his solemn walk into the sunset
Ajit Pawar parted ways with uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 and split the NCP into two. (PTI)
The mood in the rival NCP camps is as different as night and day today. For Ajit Pawar, it’s the dawn of a new era, one where his electoral value is finally established as distinct from the Pawar dynasty. For Sharad Pawar, it’s the twilight hour, one that might hasten his solemn walk into the sunset.
In their first electoral clash since an acrimonious split in the family, Ajit Pawar has decisively triumphed over his uncle, heading to victory in 36 of the 59 seats his party contested. That’s a strike rate of 61.02%. In comparison, Sharad Pawar has suffered the worst performance of his political career, with his faction leading on just 15 of the 86 seats it contested, at a dismal strike rate of 17.44%.
Here’s a look at how the undivided NCP fared in last five elections under Sharad Pawar:
| Year | Seats Won | Seats Contested | Strike Rate |
| 2019 | 54 | 121 | 44.62% |
| 2014 | 41 | 278 | 14.74% |
| 2009 | 62 | 113 | 54.86% |
| 2004 | 71 | 124 | 57.25% |
| 1999 | 58 | 223 | 26% |
With incumbent Eknath Shinde saying the Mahayuti alliance hasn’t yet decided on its chief ministerial pick, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar has even thrown her husband’s name in contention.
“It is a very fortunate day for Ajit dada, NCP, for the public and Baramati. I thank the people of Baramati for extending their support to Ajit dada. This is the victory of the people of Baramati… I want the same (Ajit Pawar to be CM) as the public wants,” she said.
However, with the BJP surpassing expectations with leads and wins in 130 seats, speculation is that Devendra Fadnavis might return as the Maharashtra chief minister.
While both NCPs stood third in their respective alliances, the consequences for them and their political heirs are starkly different. This was the first election after both the Shiv Sena and the NCP suffered a vertical split, but in the case of the latter it was also a family splitting up into two.
Voters in Baramati constituency had a front-row seat to this burgeoning family feud this time, with Ajit Pawar fighting his nephew Yugendra Pawar, who had the entire might of the Sharad Pawar clan behind him. Yugendra, a political debutant, is the son of Ajit Pawar’s younger brother. The intensity of the contest could be gauged from the fact that Sharad Pawar’s wife Pratibha, who generally keeps away from politics, and Supriya Sule’s daughter Revati also canvased for Yugendra.
Ajit Pawar, who parted ways with uncle Sharad Pawar in 2023 and split the party, visited as many villages as possible, highlighting the development he brought about in the region in the last three decades. Voters chose “Pawar saheb” over him in the Lok Sabha elections but they should support him this time, Ajit Pawar told voters.
Notably, neither the leaders of the NCP allies BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena nor the leaders of the NCP (SP) allies Congress and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) visited Baramati for campaign.
When asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not hold a rally for him, Ajit Pawar said it was not needed as it was a contest within the family.
And Ajit Pawar has decisively won that contest.
- Location :
Maharashtra, India
