Supriya Sule’s elevation in NCP sets off speculation, political circles ‘spy’ message to Ajit Pawar

NCP general secretary Sunil Tatkare said, “We welcome the decision. Supriya Sule has proved her mettle as a parliamentarian. Whereas, Praful Patel is our senior leader with vast experience in national politics.”

A close aide of Ajit Pawar, Tatkare clarified there were no differences between the former deputy chief minister and Pawar Senior.

Reacting to the development, Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil said: “All decisions were taken in the presence of Ajit Pawar.”

In Maharashtra politics, this is not the first instance when a father chose his son or daughter over his nephew to take forward his political legacy.

In the past, late Shiv Sena president Bal Thackeray handed over his political legacy to his son Uddhav Thackeray. The appointment of Uddhav Thackeray as working president in 2003 sowed the seeds of dissension within the organisation. In 2005, Bal Thackeray’s nephew Raj Thackeray left the Shiv Sena following differences with party leaders. He formed a separate party called Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. In 2012, Bal Thackeray passed away. In 2013, Uddhav Thackeray became the Shiv Sena president.

The changing equation between uncles and nephews has been a highlight of political parivars and politics in Maharashtra. Initially, many within the Shiv Sena believed that Raj Thackeray would inherit the political legacy of his uncle. But gradually, the assumption proved wrong.

At a public rally held in March this year, Raj Thackeray for the first titime revealed how he was ‘systematically sidelined’ within the organisation and his exit was planned.

In the BJP, the late Gopinath Munde was confronted with a similar dilemma – daughter versus nephew.

In 2009, Gopinath Munde decided to field his eldest daughter Pankaja from the Parli assembly constituency. The decision upset nephew Dhananjay Munde, who believed he would be chosen to represent the Parli constituency in his home district Beed.

The political bitterness between the uncle and the nephew soured family ties as well. Later, Dhananjay left the BJP to join the NCP. He was elected as NCP MLA from Parli in 2019 and became a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

BJP leader Pravin Darekar Saturday said, “The elevation of Supriya Sule as working president in the NCP is an internal matter of the party. But it indicates Sharad Pawar wanted to promote Supriya Sule in the party. It is crystal clear.”

Within the NCP and also in the public mind, Opposition leader Ajit Pawar was often perceived as the second-in-command in the party after Sharad Pawar.

“In every sense,” Darekar stressed, “Ajit Pawar’s ability to lead the organisation is known to all. So, it is quite natural for his followers to feel upset. They may have hoped to see him lead the party.”

“As far as the BJP is concerned, we are just watching the developments. There is no reason for us to question any party’s internal decision or make any offer to anybody to join us,” he added.

Last month, when Sharad Pawar announced his decision to resign from the post of party chief, many party leaders and workers petitioned the Maratha strongman to reconsider his decision. At that time, Ajit Pawar had admonished such leaders and said: “If Pawar Saheb wants to appoint someone and groom him, why should we object?”

Following pressure within the party, Pawar Senior withdrew his resignation.

A senior NCP leader close to the Pawar family said, “It would be wrong to compare the Pawars with the Thackerays and the Mundes. Sharad Pawar has meticulously divided the work. He groomed Supriya Sule for national politics. She was first Rajya Sabha MP, then a three-term Lok Sabha MP. Whereas, Ajit Pawar was elected to the Maharashtra state legislative assembly and his role is limited to state matters.”

Defending the decision of Sharad Pawar, Jayant Patil also said: “Ajit Pawar is not being ignored. He is the Opposition leader in the state legislative assembly. He has a huge responsibility.”

Tatkare said, “Where is the question of unhappiness? Ajit Pawar was present. He welcomed the decision. All decisions in the Pawar family are taken based on consensus.”

But political observers claimed that Supriya Sule’s elevation will give her greater control over the organisation both at the state and the national levels. “It is evident, Sule is the second-in-command after Sharad Pawar,” observed a political pundit.