NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s resignation as party president is to make way for his restless nephew as well as project himself as the unanimous face of the opposition in the face of a hung Lok Sabha in 2024. What Sharad Pawar can do when and what, is not normal. It is difficult to predict. He is India’s most practical politician in terms of seizing opportunities.
The NCP founder on Tuesday surprised everyone, including his own party, when he announced that he would no longer be taking over the reins of the party. If it is assumed that he remains firm on his decision, then his decision is raising 2 unresolved questions.
NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s
The first question is the unresolved issue of leadership in his own party. His daughter Supriya Sule and nephew Ajit Pawar are seen as strong contenders. The second question is related to national politics. Sharad Pawar is the president of Mahavikas Aghadi. He is the Bhishma Pitamah of the opposition. His resignation may deal a blow to efforts to form a front of opposition parties against the BJP(NCP founder Sharad Pawar).
But there is a high chance that Pawar’s announcement is part of his plan to unify the party and hand over the leadership legacy to the new generation in a smooth manner. Nationally, he is projecting himself as a possible candidate in 2024. If there is a situation of a hung Lok Sabha, then there can be a consensus in the opposition on his name.
Sharad Pawar at the launch of his autobiography
#WATCH | Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar leaves from his residence.
Sharad Pawar announced yesterday that he has decided to resign from the post of NCP president. pic.twitter.com/92ltFnWcpb
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023
Sharad Pawar is 82 years old. But now it would be a big mistake to believe that his political innings is over. He has emerged politically(NCP founder Sharad Pawar) stronger many times in the past. Sometimes emerged as the center of power and sometimes reached around it.
Despite his personal penchant for Congress-brand secular politics, the most striking aspect of Sharad Pawar’s personality is that he has friends in almost every political party. Despite being ideologically a staunch opponent of the BJP, he has good relations with Narendra Modi. Whenever he finds it politically convenient, he also adopts a path different from the stand of the opposition parties. Recently, he questioned the need for formation of JPC to investigate Gautam Adani’s business. Pawar is generally considered pro-business. He is against harming a businessman just for political reasons.
*#POLITICAL TSUNAMI IN MAHARASTRA POLITICS*
*MOST SENIOR LEADER FROM NATIONAL CONGRESS PARTY (NCP) PRESIDENT "SHARAD PAWAR" RESIGN FROM PRESIDENT POST OF NATIONAL CONGRESS PARTY (NCP)* pic.twitter.com/6rpit6TCen
— Sarfaraz Ahmad Siddiqui (@Sarfara76611737) May 2, 2023
When he saw an opportunity in Maharashtra(NCP founder Sharad Pawar), he took a different path from the Congress. He broke away from the Congress in 1978 to become the Chief Minister with the support of the Janata Party. In 1999, when he felt that there could be a consensus on his name for the post of Prime Minister in the event of a hung Lok Sabha, he once again severed ties with the Congress. He then argued that he did not want someone born in Italy i.e. Sonia Gandhi to be projected as a possible prime minister.
But in 1999, when the NDA government came again, he improved his relations with Sonia without any delay and his party became an ally of the Congress in Maharashtra. In 2019, Pawar played the role of kingmaker when the BJP(NCP founder Sharad Pawar) failed to get a majority on its own in Maharashtra and the Shiv Sena went on the offensive about its claim to the CM’s post. He emerged as the architect of Mahavikas Aghadi. However, it is a matter of fact that last year Uddhav Thackeray could not save his own party from rebellion.
Sharad Pawar PC
Party leaders are perplexed by Pawar’s announcement to quit as NCP president Yes, Pawar(NCP founder Sharad Pawar) may regret that despite his seniority and credibility, he was kept away from the Prime Minister’s chair. In this case, luck always looked against him. In 1999, the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to power with a larger majority. In 2004, when the BJP suffered an unexpected defeat, the key to power was Sonia Gandhi.
Incidentally, it was only in 2004 that Pawar(NCP founder Sharad Pawar) himself was diagnosed with oral cancer. underwent surgery. After this, he probably felt that his political career had reached its peak. He then decided that now he will not be a king in the politics of Maharashtra as well as the center but a kingmaker.
After the emergence of Modi as the most popular leader in 2014, Pawar’s prime ministerial hopes were completely destroyed(NCP founder Sharad Pawar). Now, even if the opposition manages to oust Modi from power in 2024, Pawar is unlikely to be the first choice. But if there is a political deadlock, then Pawar can see himself as the face on whose name the opposition can agree. The only question will be whether Sonia Gandhi clears his name or not as she never fully trusts him since 1999.
But why retire before 2024? Perhaps because Ajit Pawar(NCP founder Sharad Pawar) is getting impatient to take over the reins of the party and is projecting himself as the chief ministerial candidate after the next elections in Maharashtra. In 2019, he parted ways with the party and briefly became part of the Fadnavis government. Then Sharad Pawar somehow brought him back and laid the foundation of Mahavikas Aghadi. Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister. But now the MVA is not in power and the political ambitions of the nephew are taking a toll.
Besides, it was also inevitable for Pawar to step down as NCP chief. This was necessary in order to hand over the leadership to the new generation while he was alive.
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