Maharashtra Political Scenario: BJP-NCP Alliance in Question
Speculations are rife that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may sever its alliance with Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. According to a report by the New Indian Express, the BJP is considering partnering exclusively with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. This comes after an article in the RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, suggested that the BJP’s coalition with Pawar’s NCP contributed to their disappointing performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
Lok Sabha Election Setback for BJP
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secured 30 out of Maharashtra’s 48 seats. The ruling Mahayuti coalition, which is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), managed to win only 17 seats. This marks a significant drop from the 2019 elections, where the NDA claimed 43 seats.
Internal Dissatisfaction and Public Critique
The RSS-BJP cadre’s dissatisfaction with the alliance was palpable. An anonymous senior BJP leader quoted in the New Indian Express mentioned that the anti-Pawar sentiment, deeply ingrained in RSS-BJP ranks due to Ajit Pawar’s alleged involvement in the irrigation and Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scams, was sidelined when Pawar allied with the BJP. This discontent grew when Ajit Pawar was appointed Deputy Chief Minister in the Mahayuti government.
Ajit Pawar’s Position and the Lok Sabha Results
The reluctance of RSS-BJP workers to campaign for NCP candidates significantly impacted the election results. The BJP’s seat count dropped from 23 in 2019 to just nine in 2024. Meanwhile, the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP could only secure one seat, Raigarh, out of the five it contested.
RSS Critique and BJP’s Brand Value
Ratan Sharda, a lifelong RSS worker, wrote in Organiser that the BJP’s alliance with Ajit Pawar diminished its “brand value” and rendered it “just another party without any difference.” This critique has fueled discussions within the BJP leadership about the future of their alliance with Pawar in the upcoming state assembly elections.
Reactions and Future Prospects
Hours before the Modi 3.0 swearing-in ceremony, the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, rejected the BJP’s offer to appoint party leader Praful Patel as a Minister of State (MoS) with independent charge. Patel, who has previously held cabinet positions, viewed the MoS role as a demotion.
Impact on Maharashtra Assembly Elections
The BJP is now deliberating the potential consequences of breaking ties with Ajit Pawar in the upcoming assembly elections. If the BJP proceeds with this strategy, it could pose a significant setback for Ajit Pawar, who is facing an uncertain political future following the Lok Sabha election results, despite being part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra and having secured the original party name and symbol of the NCP from his uncle.
Results
Maharashtra’s political scene is still evolving as the BJP assesses its alliances and tactics in the context of the latest election results. The party’s chances in the upcoming assembly elections will surely depend on the decision to continue or end the cooperation with Ajit Pawar.
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