As Maharashtra prepares for the state assembly elections, the Sharad Pawar-NCP (SP) is reassessing its strategy.
The party handed over its seats to ally Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the Lok Sabha elections to maintain its alliance, but plans to take a tougher stance in the upcoming state assembly elections.
In a series of key meetings on Friday, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar brought together party leaders from Pune city and district, followed by a meeting with state legislators and newly elected MPs. NCP (SP) city leader Prashant Jagtap, who attended the first meeting, revealed that Pawar justified the cut in the number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections as a necessary compromise to maintain the alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Indian National Congress.
“He suggested that things will be different in the state assembly polls,” Jagtap said, hinting at a more aggressive approach.
During the second meeting, Pawar urged the Congress and state legislators to gear up for the upcoming state assembly elections. Pawar reviewed the electoral situation in key constituencies including Pune, Baramati, Maval and Sirur.
Meanwhile, state NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil told reporters that the party is yet to finalise its seat demands in the MVA seat-allocation talks. Regarding the controversial Baramati assembly seat, currently held by rival faction NCP deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Patil confirmed that Sharad Pawar would take the final call.
Senior NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh emphasised unity within the MVA and rejected the notion of hierarchy among allies. “There are no ‘elder brothers’ in the MVA. All are equal,” he asserted.
Deshmukh also noted the anxiety among MPs from Ajit Pawar’s faction following the results of the Lok Sabha elections. “Some of them have sought advice from Patil and other leaders of the NCP (SP). We will decide how to proceed,” he added.
In the recent Indian Lok Sabha elections, the NCP (SP) outperformed rival factions, winning eight of the ten seats contested, while Ajit Pawar’s group could only win one of the four seats it contested.
With the state assembly elections approaching, the NCP (SP) is gearing up for a tough fight as it is determined to grab a bigger share of the political arena.
