Sharad Pawar: How the maverick leader reshaped Maharashtra politics

NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar

Some see him as India’s Chanakya; others compare him to the Italian strategist Niccolo Machiavelli, and many call him a political mastermind. Over a six-decade-long career, Sharad Pawar has carved out a unique position in Indian politics, achieving a stature few others can claim. At 83, when most of his contemporaries have either retired or passed away, Pawar remains an active player on the political field, still capable of powerful moves. As hung assembly is anticipated after the assembly elections, all eyes will be on Pawar and his next move, which could hold the key for government formation.

Here's a look at Pawar's storied political career:

Legacy rooted in Maharashtra

Born on December 12, 1940, in Baramati, Pune district, Pawar came from a progressive farming family. His father, Govindrao, was involved in a cooperative institution, while his mother, Shardabai, was an active local leader, elected to the Pune municipal body. Initially, the family supported the Congress Party, but after 1947, their inclinations turned towards leftist ideologies, which Pawar opposed. Young Sharad often debated with his mother, asserting his belief in democracy as the most just system.

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Pawar attended several Marathi-medium schools, and while he was an average student academically, he had a keen interest in reading. His library records reveal he delved into works on European philosopher Rousseau and Russian leader Joseph Stalin. Early on, he also began participating in extracurricular activities, which would shape his political journey.

Start of Pawar's political path

Pawar’s political career formally began at 16, during the Goa liberation struggle in 1955, when Portuguese forces attacked freedom fighters. He organized protests, leading a school and college strike. His passion for activism grew, and he soon joined the Congress party's youth wing, taking part in various causes, including drought relief efforts.

A significant moment came in 1960 when his brother, Vasantrao Pawar, contested elections from the Peasants and Workers Party, while Sharad, as a Youth Congress member, was obligated to campaign for the Congress candidate. Faced with a choice between supporting family or party, he chose the latter and aggressively campaigned for the Congress, leading to his brother's loss but establishing Pawar as a loyal and dedicated Congress worker.

A mentor and a political guru

Sharad Pawar was greatly influenced by Maharashtra’s first Chief Minister, Yashwantrao Chavan, a staunch advocate for youth involvement in politics. Their chance meeting in college left a lasting impact, and Chavan soon became Pawar’s mentor. By 1962, Pawar had been appointed president of the Maharashtra Youth Congress, giving him the opportunity to travel extensively across the state and develop a deep understanding of its political landscape.

Political ascension

In 1967, Pawar received his first ticket to contest the assembly election from Baramati. Despite local opposition within the Congress, he secured a decisive victory, marking the beginning of a successful electoral career. This election also revealed Pawar’s strong devotion to a local Hanuman temple in Kanheri, where he began his campaign with a traditional coconut offering—a ritual he has since followed every election season.

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In 1972, he was appointed as Maharashtra's Home Minister at the age of just 32. However, when the Congress split in 1975, Pawar sided with his mentor Chavan in Congress (S), eventually becoming the industry minister under Vasantdada Patil. When internal divisions arose, Pawar took a bold step by allying with the opposition Janata Party, toppling the government, and forming his own party, the Samantar Congress. At only 38, he became the youngest chief minister of Maharashtra, demonstrating his ambition and strategic mind.

Building political influence and tactical shifts

Pawar’s career is marked by several calculated moves. In 1984, after Indira Gandhi’s assassination, he merged his faction with Congress (I) to secure the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s position under Rajiv Gandhi. When Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991, Pawar’s chance to become prime minister slipped due to opposition within the party, and PV Narasimha Rao took the position.

In 1999, before the Lok Sabha elections, Pawar raised the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, challenging her right to become prime minister. This led to his exit from Congress and the founding of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Ironically, he later joined forces with Congress, taking a U-turn on his stance, eventually becoming the Union Minister of Agriculture under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by Manmohan Singh.

Rural connect

Pawar’s strong influence over Maharashtra’s sugar cooperatives has bolstered his popularity among rural voters. His leadership in establishing the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Baramati, which promotes advanced farming techniques, has further solidified his image as a champion of farmers’ rights and welfare.

Controversial 2014 decision

In 2014, Pawar surprised many by indirectly supporting the BJP. He instructed NCP members to abstain from voting in the assembly confidence motion, paving the way for a BJP government in Maharashtra. This move allowed BJP to form a government without Shiv Sena and deepened the rift between the two parties, serving Pawar’s long-term strategy.

However, the decision was seen as a mistake by Sharad Pawar. The central agencies targeted NCP leaders with legal cases. Senior leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal faced imprisonment, and Ajit Pawar risked prosecution. Pawar himself faced Enforcement Directorate summons. Many NCP leaders defected and joined the BJP. The NCP was about to be written off from the political sphere.

Sharad Pawar said that he had supported the BJP's government formation in 2014 to widen the chasm between the Shiv Sena and BJP. He claims it to be a political stroke.

Comeback and role of Shiv Sena

Despite NCP's decline in popularity, Pawar staged a strong comeback in the 2019 elections. At one rally in Satara, he gave a speech in pouring rain, a powerful image that resonated with voters, winning NCP 14 additional seats.

Following this, Pawar capitalized on growing rifts between Shiv Sena and BJP. Using his influence, he persuaded Shiv Sena to form a coalition with NCP and Congress, effectively creating the Mahavikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra with Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister. While the government formation was in process, his nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled. In an early morning sweaing in ceremony on 23 November 2019, Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy CM and Devendra Fadnavis became the CM. However, after Sharad Pawar's strong warning of invoking action under anti-defection law, most of the MLAs who joined Ajit Pawar returned to the Sharad Pawar camp. Fadnavis' government fell in three days.

Lifetime of strategic mastery

Sharad Pawar recently announced that he is not going to contest any more elections, but many political pundits refuse to construe his statement as retirement from politics. Pawar's career reflects his ability to craft and execute complex political strategies, often shifting alliances to his advantage. Despite ups and downs, he remains a vital force in Indian politics, and as the Maharashtra elections approach, it’s clear that Pawar is preparing for yet another major play on Maharashtra's political arena.