Ajit Pawar’s NCP: Mahayuti’s Weakest Link?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is emerging as the weakest link in the BJP-Sena Mahayuti alliance.
2. Pawar’s political missteps, corruption allegations, and the party’s dwindling electoral performance are key concerns.
3. Tensions are rising within the alliance, with partners expressing discomfort with Ajit Pawar’s role.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The Mahayuti, an alliance formed between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, is facing internal discord as Pawar’s NCP is increasingly seen as its weakest component. Political analysts and Mahayuti partners are concerned about Ajit Pawar’s tainted political image, the NCP’s failure to transfer votes effectively, and his diminishing bargaining power within the alliance.

Ajit Pawar’s leadership of the NCP, once thought to be a strategic asset, has turned into a political liability. Despite the significant political gamble of aligning with the BJP and Shiv Sena, his faction secured only one seat in the recent Lok Sabha elections, while Sharad Pawar’s NCP, part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), claimed eight seats. This poor performance weakened Ajit Pawar’s influence within Mahayuti, leading to growing discomfort among his alliance partners.

Shiv Sena leader Tanaji Sawant’s scathing remarks, expressing disdain for NCP leaders, have made the friction between the allies more evident. BJP leaders have raised concerns that their alliance with Ajit Pawar not only hurt their electoral tally but also diluted their stance against corruption, especially with Ajit Pawar’s history of involvement in various scandals. Although Ajit Pawar was recently cleared in a money-laundering scam, the damage to his reputation remains.

Further complicating matters is the failure of the NCP to transfer its voter base to benefit the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. This disconnect has significantly weakened Pawar’s bargaining power within the Mahayuti, prompting the BJP and Shiv Sena to view him as more of a liability than an asset.

Moreover, Pawar’s recent public interactions with controversial figures like Nawab Malik, a former NCP minister out on bail, have added to the alliance’s unease. Senior BJP leaders and Sangh Parivar-affiliated publications have voiced their displeasure with the alliance, further isolating Pawar’s faction.

Experts believe that Ajit Pawar lacks the grassroots cadre support that his uncle Sharad Pawar enjoys, leaving his political standing on shaky ground. As tensions rise within Mahayuti, Ajit Pawar’s NCP is increasingly seen as the weakest link, casting doubt on its future within the alliance.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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