Maharashtra Assembly Polls To See ‘Pawar Play’ At 84? Why Senior NCP Leader Is The Saviour Congress, MVA Need

84 not out – That’s the experience Sharad Pawar brings to the table. At a rally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief said that he would do everything to save Maharashtra, whether he is 84 or 90. For the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), especially the Congress, he remains the saviour and the superman they need to ensure a win in this critical state poll.

The Congress, which has been battered by the Haryana poll results, needs Pawar to resurrect itself, because Pawar is a fighter, and can also be shrewd and wily. Each time it seems his chips are down and the NCP is over, his master moves and twists and turns prove he is like the cat with many lives.

Now take the time in 2019 and then 2023, when his nephew Ajit left family to join the other side. In 2019, Ajit managed to engineer a split in the NCP. Ajit came back, but not for long. In 2023, when what the NCP calls “second betrayal” happened, Pawar, who had suddenly announced his retirement, bounced back.

In the big battle which took place in Baramati between Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule and daughter-in-law and Ajit’s wife Sunetra Pawar, the senior leader hit the ground to ensure Sule won. The NCP’s performance in the Lok Sabha surprised many, but not the die-hard fans of Pawar who know that he hits back hardest when hit the hardest.

THE POWER OF PAWAR

The power of Pawar stems from the fact that he has friends across the political spectrum. Second, he understands and gauges political nuances well. Like how he refused to support the Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on Veer Savarkar and the Adanis.

Cut to now, with the Congress not being able to claim the big brother space after the Haryana loss, Pawar has become their best bet.

As per Congress sources, while Pawar may not be able to ensure an NCP sweep, his presence and political moves in the MVA can help the entire coalition and the Congress. Even their opponents know it.

A senior Ajit faction NCP leader said, “Sharad Pawar is our biggest opponent. He is the person we need to focus on. He can be the biggest wall for us.”

In 2019, the picture of Pawar getting wet in the rain (above) and carrying on with his speech had helped reinforce the Pawar factor.

Pawar had also insisted on going to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Mumbai when he was summoned. He milked the situation. The BJP and its allies know that the more they attack Pawar the more it adds to his power.

And it’s the power of Pawar which the MVA hopes to take advantage of.