Despite a series of setbacks, how Sharad Pawar scripted the victory of his party & MVA

During 2004 Lok Sabha elections, political pundits, looking at Sharad Pawar's advanced age and his struggle with Cancer, commented that it would be the last election for him. Most of Pawar's contemporaries have either retired from politics or have passed away. However, at the age of 83, Pawar has not only kept himself relevant in the national politics but is also playing an active role in shaping the political discourse of Maharashtra. His impressive performance in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, despite setbacks, once again underscores his political mettle.

In 2019, Sharad Pawar thwarted the first rebellion by his nephew Ajit Pawar but wasn't successful in 2023 when he rebelled again. Pawar publicly accepted that it was a mistake to forgive Ajit and take him back into the party. This time, Pawar's staunch loyalists like Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil too left him. Since Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule primarily focused on the national politics, the organisational structure of NCP at the state level was under Ajit Pawar's control. He also dominated sugar cooperatives institutions, banks and educational institutions which have been the backbone of NCP's politics.

Sharad Pawar's woes worsened when the Election Commission and the Maharashtra assembly speaker recognised rival faction of Ajit Pawar as the real NCP. The election symbol of clock was also given to Ajit Pawar. Technically, Sharad Pawar was pushed out of the party he founded in 1999. He had to adopt a new name for his party which is now NCP (Sharad Chandra Pawar). The new election symbol of Tutari was given to him.

Despite the arduous situation, Pawar chose to give a fight. He added strength to the undercurrents of sympathy towards him by making emotional appeals. He capitalised on PM Narendra Modi's jibe calling him a Bhatakti Aatma (wandering soul). Pawar responded that his soul wanders for the betterment of the people of Maharashtra. In the seat sharing process of the MVA coalition, Pawar managed to get ten seats for his party. He meticulously chose his candidates. Knowing that there was anger against the incumbent Mahayuti amongst the Maratha community, he pitted strong Maratha candidates against the Mahayuti ones. His choice of candidate at Beed seat is one such example. He gave candidacy to local Maratha strongman Bajrang Sonawane against BJP's Pankaja Munde who is an OBC leader. Sonawane won the contest.