Mumbai, India – In the wake of the recent split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), an intriguing power struggle has unfolded between Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar, both vying for the mantle of the authentic NCP. Drawing comparisons to the Shiv Sena’s internal strife a year ago, one key distinction sets these two situations apart. Unlike Eknath Shinde and his supporters, who launched a direct assault on Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar’s faction is treading more cautiously, still hoping to secure Sharad Pawar’s blessing for their decision to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Chhagan Bhujbal, a prominent figure in the Ajit Pawar camp, expressed their reverence for Sharad Pawar, stating, “It is Guru Poornima today. Pawar saheb is our guru, so we seek his blessings.” The faction’s approach emphasizes their desire to avoid being perceived as rebels like Shinde and his supporters, preferring instead to have the party supremo on board with their controversial decision.
However, behind the facade of seeking blessings, it becomes clear that parallel attempts to seize control of the party are underway. Mere hours after Sharad Pawar categorically stated that Ajit Pawar does not represent the party, the latter addressed the media to announce a series of new appointments within the party hierarchy, including the ostensible replacement of Jayant Patil as the state party chief by Sunil Tatkare.
Throughout the day, the warring factions released a barrage of statements on various issues, such as the party’s name and symbol, Jayant Patil’s powers, disqualification proceedings, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The following breakdown offers insights into the issues at hand and the stances taken by each faction:
On the matter of the “Real NCP,” Sharad Pawar firmly declared, “Ajit Pawar is not the party. My daughter, Supriya Sule, also attended the meeting, but that does not imply any wrongdoing on her part.” In response, Ajit Pawar maintained, “Whenever such situations have arisen in other parties, the Election Commission has ultimately made decisions regarding party names and symbols. We proceed under the belief that we are the rightful representatives of the party, supported by the majority of MLAs.”
Regarding the number of MLAs supporting each faction, Sharad Pawar affirmed, “All the MLAs we possess are present here. We have not attempted to demonstrate our strength. Strengths fluctuate, and I have confronted such scenarios numerous times before.” Praful Patel, a prominent leader in the Ajit Pawar faction, retorted, “Ajit Pawar and other leaders would not have taken the oath yesterday if we lacked sufficient numbers. We are the party, and thus, we need not disclose our numerical strength. Those demanding numbers must first clarify the extent of their own support.”
Concerning the expulsion of Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, Sharad Pawar unequivocally decreed, “I, as the National President, Nationalist Congress Party hereby order removal of the names of Shri Sunil Tatkare and Shri Praful Patel from the Register of Members of NCP Party for anti-party activities.,” as conveyed through a tweet. In response, Praful Patel asserted that the decision to expel him and Tatkare did not apply to them. Patel argued, “We firmly believe that the vast majority of the NCP supports the decision made yesterday. Consequently, any decision taken by a democratic majority cannot be deemed invalid.”
I, as the National President, Nationalist Congress Party hereby order removal of the names of Shri Sunil Tatkare and Shri Praful Patel from the Register of Members of NCP Party for anti-party activities.@praful_patel @SunilTatkare
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) July 3, 2023
When questioned about the disqualification proceedings, Sharad Pawar remarked, “I am not aware of any ongoing proceedings, but if Jayant Patil has made a decision, it must be correct.” Ajit Pawar sought to clarify, stating, “We have noticed messages and letters circulating, urging the Election Commission and the Assembly Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings against certain leaders. We want to emphasize that the party lacks the authority to disqualify anyone, nor does the Election Commission possess such powers. Only the Speaker can initiate proceedings, and it is a time-consuming process.”
On the issue of the Leader of the Opposition, Sharad Pawar opined, “The party with the highest number of members in opposition secures the post of Leader of the Opposition. To my knowledge, the Congress currently holds the most seats, making their demand for the position valid.” Ajit Pawar responded, “I am aware of the recent appointments made for the positions of Leader of the Opposition and the chief whip. However, it falls under the Speaker’s purview to appoint the Leader of the Opposition. While the House is in session, the Speaker designates someone from the largest party as the Leader of the Opposition. Announcing these appointments purely to instill fear among NCP leaders supportive of the Ajit Pawar faction lacks sound reasoning.”
Regarding Jayant Patil, Sharad Pawar clarified, “Jayant Patil not only serves as the state party chief but also leads the NCP within the Assembly. If he has corresponded in these capacities, it is within his rights. I am currently unaware of the specifics of the letters; I am hearing about them for the first time from you. If he has indeed written them, it must be the right course of action.” Praful Patel, however, announced that the faction has opted to “replace” Jayant Patil and appoint Sunil Tatkare as the state party chief. While Tatkare supports Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil continues to align with Sharad Pawar.
READ: NCP committee rejects Sharad Pawar’s Resignation
Finally, regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements, Sharad Pawar stated, “The Prime Minister’s comments were not specifically aimed at Ajit Pawar or any other individual, but rather the NCP as a whole. He claimed that the NCP is corrupt and cited numerous instances to support his assertions. However, the fact that he did not prevent my esteemed colleagues from taking the oath yesterday indicates that his allegations hold no merit. The appointments made confirm this notion. Considering the statement and the current circumstances, it is evident that the Centre has absolved them of all charges.”
Ajit Pawar, in contrast, declared, “We pledge our support to the developmental endeavors spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi throughout the nation. We will leverage the Centre’s support to benefit the state, be it in terms of funds, clearances, and other aspects. We understand that when there are two different parties at the Centre and the state, the people of the state unwittingly suffer from developmental setbacks.”
As the NCP grapples with internal divisions, the battle for legitimacy and control intensifies between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. With the party’s unity hanging in the balance, the future of the NCP remains uncertain. Only time will reveal the true victor in this high-stakes struggle for power and authority within one of India’s significant political parties.
