NCP’s Sharad Pawar admits talks with BJP in 2019, calls it political ‘googly’

Pawar said that this move was a strategic "googly" to expose the BJP's hunger for power and their willingness to align with anyone to gain control in the state.

Written by Ajay Jadhav

Pune | Updated: June 30, 2023 05:59 AM IST

5 min read

Pawar responded to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' disclosure that the NCP backed out of forming a government with the BJP in 2019. (File)

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NCP chief Sharad Pawar admitted on Thursday that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had engaged in discussions with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the 2019 assembly elections in Maharashtra. Pawar said that this move was a strategic “googly” to expose the BJP’s hunger for power and their willingness to align with anyone to gain control in the state.

“In 2014, the NCP had openly offered external support to the BJP to form the government, which was aimed at creating a rift among the alliance partners of the NDA in the state. There were subsequent meetings with the BJP after the 2019 assembly elections. While the BJP leaders claimed that I changed my mind just days before the swearing-in ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, the government did not last long. It was a calculated move by me to demonstrate that the BJP would go to any lengths to hold onto power, while the NCP does not chase after power,” Pawar responded to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ disclosure that the NCP backed out of forming a government with the BJP in 2019.

Pawar also took on Fadnavis pointing to an increase in crime against women in Maharashtra. “A large number of girls or women are missing from across the state. He should focus on providing security and safety to women of state instead of making political statement,” Pawar said.

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Despite losing power in the state in 2014, the NCP remained a significant player in Maharashtra politics. The party had publicly offered external support to the BJP, anticipating potential disagreements within the NDA over the chief ministerial post, as the BJP had won more seats than the Shiv Sena. However, the NCP’s attempt to create a divide within the NDA did not yield the desired results, as the Shiv Sena accepted the BJP’s claim to the chief minister’s position as the largest party in the alliance.

In 2019, a similar situation arose, but the dispute over the chief ministerial post led to a rift within the saffron alliance. As the Shiv Sena refused to concede to the BJP’s demand for a full five-year term for the chief minister, the BJP managed to secure Ajit Pawar’s support to form a new government, hoping that the NCP would follow suit. However, under the leadership of Sharad Pawar, the NCP did not support the government, which eventually collapsed due to a lack of majority. Instead, the NCP, along with the Congress, joined forces with the Shiv Sena to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state, with Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister.

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Meanwhile, the BJP capitalised on the split within the Shiv Sena under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. The MVA government eventually collapsed, and a new government was formed last year, with the BJP and Shinde-led Sena, with Shinde assuming the role of chief minister and Fadnavis as deputy chief minister.

Pawar questions need for UCC; state Cong sets up panel to study implications

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Pune, Mumbai: Calling the bid to revive the debate around Uniform Civil code (UCC) an attempt to divert focus and the result of growing restlessness in the BJP over Opposition meeting in Patna, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday urged the Centre to take into account the ‘900 opinions’ received by the Law Commission on implementation of UCC.

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“The Prime Minister recently raised the issue of UCC. The matter is with the Law Commission and I have heard that it has received 900 opinions. I have also learnt that the Sikh community has expressed reservation over it. The stand of Sikh, Christian and Jain communities should be taken into account…” he said.

On Thursday, Maharashtra Congress formed a nine-member committee chaired by former MP Bhalachandra Munagekar to study possible implications of implementation of UCC in the state. “Different religious groups have varied opinions and confusion about the UCC. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has formed a committee…to study possible implications of the implementation of UCC,” the Congress stated. Atul Londhe of MPCC said directives have been given to all state committees to form such study groups.— ENS

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More

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Bharatiya Janata Party Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra government NCP Sharad Pawar