In Maharashtra, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is at a crossroads. The party, which was formed by Sharad Pawar in 1999, has been a strong regional force, being in power for 20 of the 27 years of its existence, in alliance with parties across the ideological spectrum. Its split in 2023 led to a majority of the leaders and cadre turning to Ajit Pawar, who had joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He claimed ownership of the original party, which the top court eventually ratified. Sharad Pawar was thus left with only a fraction of the party’s strength, and had to float a new party named the NCP-SP (Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar). He now looks to his daughter Supriya Sule to lead the party, as a young and comparatively inexperienced grand-nephew, Rohit Pawar, tries to flex his muscles in Baramati and beyond. Away from power, the cadre and its leaders are in a state of disarray.

After the split in 2023, Ajit Pawar proved his mettle in the State in the 2024 elections, while Sharad Pawar’s party dominated in the Lok Sabha polls. But the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar earlier this year dealt a heavy blow to both parties as their leaders admitted that talks of a merger were underway when Ajit Pawar was alive. Today, Ajit Pawar’s NCP has been inherited by his politically inexperienced wife, Sunetra Pawar, who continues to be a part of the Mahayuti government led by the BJP. She is Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. A massive sympathy wave got her elected by a national record during her first Assembly election (by-polls) in April this year from Baramati; none of the major parties fielded any candidate against her. The Baramati constituency is considered to be a bastion of the Pawars, with Ajit Pawar being elected as its legislator for eight consecutive terms.

The possibility of a merger between the two NCPs has now faded, largely due to the interpersonal relations within the Pawar family. During his address on the foundation day last week, Sharad Pawar started his speech by taking a dig at his former party over their full-page advertisements in all the major newspapers.

A new dynamic

In the NCP, the murmurs in the power corridors about Sunetra Pawar being highly influenced by her son, Parth Pawar, who is a political novice, cannot be ignored. Several complaints of his high-handed behaviour, rude nature, and efforts to sideline experienced leaders are being heard within the party. Party leaders also point to the undue influence of its alliance partner — the BJP. If the party continues to be handled this way, disruptions are likely to be seen by the 2029 elections, leaders opine. Meanwhile, Sunetra Pawar warned against ‘undue interference’ in the party during her foundation day address.

The cadre is also unhappy with opportunities being doled out to ‘outsiders’. Recently, Parth Pawar’s friend Vikram Kakade was given the Legislative Council seat from Pune, much to the opposition of the local leadership.

However, in the NCP-SP, there is no doubt as to who is in charge — Sharad Pawar. He is a beacon of hope for the disgruntled elements in the NCP. At the party’s foundation day celebration in South Mumbai’s YB Chavan auditorium, the octogenarian’s large cut-outs were prominently displayed. Supriya Sule stayed away from the stage, and did not deliver an address. She did however wait for photo opportunities with the party workers after the event. Rohit Pawar, even though seated on the stage, spoke briefly and left immediately after the event to launch a protest. He appealed to party workers to struggle as an effective opposition, adding that the fruits of power enjoyed by the NCP were transient in nature. He glorified the value of struggle in Maharashtra’s history, lauding those who had stayed with Sharad Pawar after the split.

Thereafter, Sharad Pawar went on to praise Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in his speech, slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing himself with Jawaharlal Nehru. This was significant given the consistent speculations about the likelihood of his party merging with the Congress.

Today, the family, which has chartered Maharashtra’s electoral landscape for more than four decades, lacks robust leadership, and is also dealing with the raw political ambition of the younger generation which lacks political experience. This, even as their leaders accuse each other of further splits and mergers.

vinaya.deshpande@thehindu.co.in