Does the BJP need Ajit Pawar’s NCP anymore? Why some of the party’s Maharashtra leaders are having a rethink
While a section of the state BJP wants the party to focus on organisational expansion following big wins in the corporation polls, others are not keen on a realignment just yet.
The NCP, too, is not concerned about any big shifts taking place right at the moment,. (Express photo by Arul Horizon) As the Mahayuti navigates the political terrain amid the local body elections in Maharashtra, which will conclude with the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls later this month, questions are being raised in the BJP about whether the ruling alliance requires the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at all, given the latter’s poor performance in the corporation elections.
While the BJP needs the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to govern the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, some in the party believe that the focus of its efforts should be on expanding in the grassroots and getting the 10-15% more votes it needs on top of the approximately 26% vote share it already has (in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls).
“The BJP is not going to have any pre-poll pact with the NCP in the coming elections. The decision on whether it should continue with the Shiv Sena will depend on how their equations remain over the next three-and-a-half years,” said a BJP insider. Another senior party leader said the ultimate aim was to get as close to a 51% vote share as possible.
However, while a section of the state BJP is comfortable with letting go of the NCP and instead focus on the party’s organisational expansion — their discomfort with the NCP dates back to over a decade ago and Ajit Pawar’s alleged role in a multi-crore irrigation scam — the central BJP wants to keep the channels open even if the NCP and NCP (SP) merge. A sizable section of the state BJP agrees, pointing to the complexity of Maharashtra fragmented political landscape.
“Coalition politics cannot be ruled out,” said a state BJP leader. “And if Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) mends fences with the BJP following peace with Ajit Pawar’s NCP, it should be welcomed. Sharad Pawar’s party has 8 Lok Sabha MPs. If we can solicit their support, BJP’s dependence on Shinde will lessen.”
Another BJP leader said the party was more ideologically aligned with the Sena than the NCP. However, since the government came to power and Shinde was forced to step down and become the Deputy CM, there have been frequent run-ins between the two parties. The friction increased as the local polls approached, with the BJP pointing to this as the reason why the party should strive to become more independent.
“Since the Shiv Sena is ideologically aligned with the BJP’s Hindutva, we don’t see any issue with them. But a lot will depend on whether the next elections will be multi-pronged or Mahayuti versus Maha Vikas Aghadi,” said the leader.
View in the NCP
The NCP, too, is not concerned about any big shifts taking place right at the moment, with the party’s state president Sunil Tatkare telling The Indian Express that while his party might hold merger talks with the NCP (SP), it continues to remain part of the NDA both in the state and the Centre. Asked about the sharp words exchanged between the NCP and the BJP in the run-up to the corporation polls, Ajit Pawar accused his ally of corruption in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies, while the BJP reminded him of the irrigation scam — Tatkare said, “This issue is done and dusted. Such things happen sometimes during elections. We are part of the BJP-led Mahayuti and will remain so.”
“In principle, the NCP and the NCP (SP) were and are the same. The divide is a political adjustment. Secondly, the NCP and the NCP (SP) know ideologically that they have to pursue the secular politics of Ambedkar, Shahu, and Phule to retain their vote bank, which includes Muslims, Dalits, and Marathas. It will suit the BJP also to keep us apart to ensure division of secular votes. Yet, unlike the Congress, the NCP or the NCP (SP) do not have a rigid ideological tag. This helps them be transactional when it comes to making any moves towards or away from any political pole, including the BJP,” said a senior NCP leader who is also close to Sharad Pawar.
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