After the worst defeat in Lok Sabha polls, a burst of laughter: What makes Ajit Pawar so happy?

Shinde shot back saying, “He has the experience of taking oath in the morning and in the evening as well.” A recall of his failed early-morning swearing-in attempt with BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis in 2019, put a big smile on Pawar’s face as well.

Known for his usual straight and staid face, Pawar’s relaxed avatar since the Maharashtra assembly results is hard to miss. By winning 41 seats in the 2024 assembly elections, Pawar not only triumphed over his uncle and veteran politician Sharad Pawar but has successfully claimed his party as the real NCP. This may lead to further incoming to his party.

Ajit Pawar also faced opposition within the family for going against his uncle as many, including his brothers, opposed him politically. His victory also gives him an emotional upper hand against all those.

Less than four months ago, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar suffered one of the worst defeats in his political career as only one out of his five candidates emerged victorious in the Lok Sabha polls.

In what turned out to be one of the most high-profile battles in the country then, Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra faced defeat at the hands of his cousin sister and incumbent MP Supriya Sule, daughter of veteran politician Sharad Pawar in the family’s home turf Baramati. This was for the first time that two members of the Pawar family faced each other in an electoral battle. Ajit Pawar had made it a prestige battle by choosing to be stationed in Baramati and overseeing the campaign for his wife.

Found himself at the bottom of state’s political hierarchy and was left with very little option to negotiate a higher number of seats for the party in assembly polls, Pawar focused on 59 parties only and finally emerged victorious on 41. With a mammoth mandate handed over to Mahayuti, he was the first party to come out openly extending support to Devendra Fadnavis as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Faced with several inquiries and his relatives facing raids by central agencies in the past, Pawar has heaved a sigh of relief ever since joining hands with the BJP.

“Since its formation in 1999, except for the five-year term in 2014-19, the NCP has always been part of the government. Even after 2019, be it MVA or Mahayuti, the NCP has been in power. The party thrives on power. This time, with a huge mandate on Mahayuti’s side, the government will run smoothly for the next five years and he faces no challenge for the time being,” said a leader from the NCP.

Sources within the NCP also mentioned that Pawar has an advantage over NCP (SP) now, as he will be in power for the next five years. “One cannot deny the possibility of elected representatives making overtures to the NCP. Now he is in a driving seat,” the leader said.