As the final numbers for the Maharashtra state assembly elections settle in, BJP led NDA is poised to rule for another term under the leadership of CM Devendra Fadnavis. However, the final numbers have also certainly indicated towards repositioning of opposition in the state. Leading this change was certainly Sharad Pawar led NCP which emerged victorious on 54 assembly constituencies as compared to just 41 seats in the 2014 state assembly election.
Despite the overall defeat in elections these numbers provide a ray of hope for the NCP, which despite suffering major losses and rejection in the general elections a few months back, managed to grab a respectable number of seats. Coming as another boost for the Sharad Pawar led party was their victory in the Satara Lok Sabha by-polls which were held along with the state elections.
Udayanraje Bhosale BJP’s candidate who had jumped ships from the NCP a few months back secured just 5,48,903 votes compared to NCP’s candidate and Sharad Pawar’s long-time friend Shriniwas Patil who got 6,36,620 votes. Udayanraje Bhosale, a direct descendent of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had joined the BJP with much grandeur in presence of party heavyweights like Amit Shah and others. Nonetheless, NCP managed to win the Lok-Sabha by-polls along with a considerable performance in state assembly elections.
While in Satara on the last day of campaigning on 19th October, Sharad Pawar had held his ground in face of a heavy downpour and had said “The rain god has blessed the NCP for the October 21 election. And with the blessings of the rain god, Satara district will create a miracle in Maharashtra.”
Sharad Pawar in his address had also acknowledged his “mistake” of picking Bhosale as the Satara candidate in May Lok Sabha elections. “When one makes a mistake, one should admit it. I made a mistake while selecting a candidate for the Lok Sabha poll. I accept this publicly. But I am happy that to correct the mistake, every young and old person in Satara is waiting for October 21,” he had said.
In the last few months, more than a hundred prominent leaders left NCP to join the ruling coalition. BJP National President- Amit Shah famously said that if the party opens the door for opposition leaders, Sharad Pawar would be the only leader left with NCP. NCP’s Mumbai unit chief, Sachin Ahir had also joined Shiv Sena. Chitra Wagh, prominent woman face of NCP, former minister and President of the women wing of the party had also quit the party. The Party, however, managed to keep its act together despite suffering from serious defections.
Most of the popular regional leaders of NCP have left the party to join BJP or Shiv Sena. Sharad Pawar is the only party leader with a cross-state appeal, and therefore, the party was relying on him for electoral success. Sharad Pawar did not disappoint the party and took head-on the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. CM Fadnavis even criticized the party for relying on the 78-year-old patriarch, to which, Pawar replied with ‘Abhi to main Jawanhoo (I am still Young). The fighting spirit of Pawar is laudable. Sharad Pawar is alleged to be corrupt and may even be an opportunist as an individual but as a politician, he has got exceptional skills.
