Sharad Pawar Reacts to MVA’s Shocking Defeat: ‘The People’s Decision Was Unexpected

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar described the unexpected defeat of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections as a decisive outcome delivered by the people.

The election saw the MVA, a coalition of NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress, reduced to just 46 seats in total, while the BJP-led Mahayuti secured a commanding victory with 230 seats.

Acknowledging the Outcome

Reacting to the results, Sharad Pawar expressed disappointment, noting that the outcome had not been anticipated. He highlighted the impressive performance of his nephew Ajit Pawar, whose faction of the NCP won 41 seats.

In contrast, Sharad Pawar’s faction managed only 10 seats, marking its worst performance since the NCP’s inception in 1999.

“It’s not a decision expected by us. It is the decision given by people. I must agree that Ajit Pawar has got more seats than us, but Maharashtra knows who is the founder of NCP,” he said.

Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP split in July 2023 after Ajit Pawar and a group of loyalists joined the BJP-Shiv Sena government under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with Ajit Pawar assuming the role of Deputy Chief Minister.

Challenges and Polarisation

Sharad Pawar noted the unprecedented influence of money power and polarisation during the elections.

Referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ‘batenge toh katenge’ (divided we fall) slogan, he said it contributed to a polarised electoral atmosphere.

“I heard from people that such money power use was never seen before. The way the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made comments, it was clear that they wanted to polarise. There was polarisation in the election, and he was brought here (in Maharashtra) for that,” Pawar stated.

Despite the disappointing results, he dismissed claims of a lack of coordination among MVA allies, emphasizing that all parties had worked together earnestly during the campaign.

“We have been in public life for many years and have never had such an experience. But now that we have, we will understand why it happened and go in front of the people with a new enthusiasm,” he said.

Reactions to EVM Allegations and Future Plans

Responding to allegations of EVM tampering, Sharad Pawar said he had heard such claims but lacked concrete evidence to support them.

He announced plans to convene a meeting of newly elected NCP (SP) MLAs to analyze the results and strategize future actions.

“We had a response from the people during campaigning, but we didn’t know it would not turn into votes,” he remarked.

On the prestigious Baramati seat, Ajit Pawar defeated Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew Yugendra Pawar.

Reflecting on this, Sharad Pawar acknowledged Ajit’s political experience, stating, “I had to give a candidate in Baramati. Hence, I gave a ticket to Yugendra. I understand there is no comparison between him and Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar has been in power for a long time.”

MVA’s Position and Ajit Pawar’s Jibes

The MVA’s dismal performance means none of its member parties secured enough seats to claim the Leader of Opposition post in the Assembly.

Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) 10. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar retained his Baramati seat with a resounding victory over Yugendra Pawar, winning by a margin of over one lakh votes.

Ajit Pawar took a dig at his nephew Rohit Pawar, who retained the Karjat Jamkhed seat by a narrow margin of 1,243 votes. At the memorial of Y. B. Chavan, Ajit quipped, “You barely survived. Had I held a rally (in Karjat Jamkhed), imagine what would have happened.”

Rohit Pawar graciously acknowledged Ajit’s remark, admitting that his uncle’s absence due to his campaign in Baramati might have played a role in his win. Calling Ajit Pawar a “father figure,” Rohit credited him for past support and emphasized the importance of upholding traditions and values in politics.