A statement by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar has created panic in the political circles. Sharad Pawar has said that two years ago PM Modi had offered to form a coalition government in Maharashtra, which he had turned down. If we look at Sharad Pawar’s political career, then we will find that once Sharad Pawar had an alliance with BJP in Maharashtra, now the question arises that why he did not do so in 2019? The answer is Sharad Pawar’s strategy of ‘power’ control, which Pawar has always kept at the top.
was formed in 1985
Even though an alliance between NCP and BJP could not be formed in the year 2019, before the Maharashtra Assembly elections of 1985, BJP and Sharad Pawar’s party Indian National Congress (Socialist) and Janata Party formed an alliance. This alliance was named Progressive Democratic Front which also included the Janata Party. This alliance was also possible because then the condition of BJP was very bad in Maharashtra and it became a part of Sharad Pawar-led alliance.
This alliance also contested on 284 seats, but could get only 103 seats. After this Sharad Pawar became the Leader of Opposition in the state. At that time also Sharad Pawar played the role of elder brother, but the situation in 2019 was quite different.
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Why was the offer turned down in 2019?
NCP was considered to be over in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, but Sharad Pawar changed the situation with one of his speeches. The BJP became the single largest party in the assembly elections, but the NCP emerged as the kingmaker. Speculation of an alliance between BJP and NCP was rife amid the ongoing dispute with Shiv Sena. On 20 November 2019, Sharad Pawar’s meeting with PM Narendra Modi gave further impetus to these speculations.
It was being said that it was the BJP which was trying for an alliance, but Pawar was eyeing ‘power’ which might not be found in going with the BJP. Had the NCP gone with the BJP, the BJP would have been in the role of an elder brother and this is probably what Sharad Pawar was not digesting.
Significantly, in the year 2019, out of the total 277 seats, BJP got 103, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44. Then playing the role of kingmaker, Sharad Pawar brought Shiv Sena and Congress on one platform and formed the government. If anyone has benefited the most in this new coalition government, it is Sharad Pawar.
There was a difference of ground and sky in the ideology of Congress and Shiv Sena, but Sharad Pawar did the work of bridge. This alliance happened and Mahavikas Aghadi’s government was formed in Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray may be sitting on the chair, but Sharad Pawar’s hand is considered remote.
Let us inform that Sharad Pawar has claimed that ‘it is true that there was talk about alliance between the two parties (BJP and NCP). The Prime Minister had said that we should think about it, but I told him that it is not possible and I do not want to keep it in the dark.
However, BJP has termed it as half incomplete information. Yet one thing is clear from this that Sharad Pawar was looking at the bigger picture which was not possible with the BJP. Sharad Pawar formed the government in Maharashtra with a strategy and has maintained it even today despite the ideological conflict.
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