Civic body elections in Maharashtra have come as a big blow to the NCP. Sharad Pawar, the party chief, and also a leader who has the charisma, leadership quality and political acumen, must leave no stone unturned to revive his party
Going by the recent adverse civic poll results in Maharasthra, it seems that Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar is losing his touch. His Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was the worst-hit among other players. Pawar has seen many highs and lows and has been synonymous with power politics both in Maharashtra and national politics. After his first election to the Maharashtra Assembly in 1967, he never lost an election and also completed his 50 years in politics recently.
However, the recent elections to the 25 zilla parishads and 10 municipal corporations in Maharashtra have dealt a severe blow to the NCP. The party has come down to the third position from the first despite its perceived strong rural base. Eyebrows were raised because it fared poorly even in western Maharashtra which had been its stronghold.
The NCP was ousted from power in four municipal corporations, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, which are Sharad Pawar’s bastion. It also lost two other municipal corporations — Solapur and Amravati — where it was ruling in alliance with the Congress. What will be the future of Pawar and his party in the aftermath of the poll debacleIJ Is it the end of the roadIJ Will the NCP survive or wither awayIJ These are the questions being asked.
Civic polls results assume importance in view of the 2019 lok Sabha elections. While some doomsayers predict that it is the end of the road for Sharad Pawar and his party, optimists point out that no party can be wished away just because it has lost one civic body elections. Also, one must not get confused with the Assembly or lok Sabha polls because voters view them differently. NCP leaders believe that Sharad Pawar has weathered many political storms and this would be just one of them.
But why did the NCP slideIJ First, people have lost faith in both, the Congress and the NCP. Senior party leaders are facing corruption charges. Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has been in jail. Senior NCP leaders like Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare too are facing charges on irregularities in irrigation projects with the result the party did not field them to campaign.
Second, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis imported Ajit Pawar’s aides in Pimpri-Chinchwad which hurt the party. The BJP was packed with NCP leaders and aides close to Ajit Pawar and they were the ones who ensured victory for the BJP.
Third, the NCP is seen at the back of the recent Maratha agitation demanding quota. This has resulted in the non-Marathas dumping the NCP.
Fourth, the NCP and the Congress fought the elections separately when an alliance could have helped both. Moreover, people were not deceived by Sharad Pawar’s anti-BJP stand while he was coming to the rescue of the BJP. Gestures of the Modi Government awarding him the Padma Vibhushan did not go unnoticed.
Fifth, Sharad Pawar, who has taken a back seat, had been talking of concentrating on social work for 60 per cent of his time and doing politics for the 40 per cent. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation results have made him come to the forefront again.
The NCP survives mainly because of Sharad Pawar who has the charisma, leadership qualities, money power and political acumen. Though he broke away from the Congress and launched his own party, the NCP has been in alliance with the Congress and has ruled Maharashtra for 15 years. The NCP also had its ministers at the Centre.
In 2014, the two had fought separately when the party won just four seats and in the subsequent Assembly polls it won 41 seats, its worst ever performance. This civic body poll have shown a further slide.
What is Sharad Pawar’s strategy to restore the image of the partyIJ His idea is to form an alliance with the Congress in 10 municipal corporations and 25 zilla parishads in the State in post-poll scenario and take it froward to 2019. Within hours, Sharad Pawar began the negotiations and declared that if both the Congress and the NCP form an alliance, it could come to power in some 17 to 18 zilla parishads of the total 25.
Pawar has confidence in his nephew Ajit Pawar’s leadership qualities, who is a 24*7 politician and has developed grossroot contacts. While his daughter Supriya Sule is more interested in national politics, Ajit Pawar was the one who was nursing the State all these years.
But CBI cases had come in the way but he might become more active before the 2019 polls. The NCP does not lack funds, which is crucial for political success. If the NCP- Congress alliance is taken forward to the 2019 polls, both could benefit.
Supriya Sule, reacting to the adverse results said, “It is not the endgame for the NCP as we will improve our performance.” As it has been proved many times, no politician can be written off and Sharad Pawar is not the one to give up easily. But the NCP has to work hard and go for an alliance with the Congress to improve its position. Sharad Pawar is just doing that.
(The writer is a senior political commentator and syndicated columnist)