This is an archive article published on July 3, 2023
Portents of Ajit Pawar’s mutiny: Warmth with Fadnavis, charge that he gave govt a free pass
Though the NCP leader’s volte-face brought down Devendra Fadnavis’ short-lived government in 2019, the two maintained their bond and this perhaps was the precursor to Sunday’s seismic shift in Maharashtra politics
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal and others meet Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in Mumbai. (Express Photo)
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Portents of Ajit Pawar’s mutiny: Warmth with Fadnavis, charge that he gave govt a free pass
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Maharashtra politics since the toppling of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last year has been akin to a blood sport, reflecting the extremely polarised nature of the state’s polity. But through all the bitter exchanges between political rivals, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his new partner Ajit Pawar maintained their bond, and this perhaps was a precursor to Sunday’s seismic shift.
After the Assembly elections in 2019, to realise his ambitions, Ajit Pawar had left the fledgling MVA to take oath as Deputy CM alongside Fadnavis, who became the CM, in an early-morning exercise shrouded in secrecy. The arrangement lasted just three days but the bonhomie between the two continued, despite the setback and Ajit’s return to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fold.
After Fadnavis returned to power last year after engineering a split in the Shiv Sena, Ajit, who became the Leader of the Opposition, was criticised for going soft on the government. It was also noted that the powers that be went out of their way to provide the NCP leader an aircraft to fly down to Mumbai to receive former NCP minister Anil Deshmukh, as he walked out of jail in December. At the time, Ajit had downplayed the issue. “I requested Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to postpone a Business Advisory Committee meeting by a day. When he asked the reason, I told him about travelling to Mumbai (to visit Anil Deshmukh). He offered to advance the meeting and said I could go to Mumbai in a government aeroplane later in the day.”
Ajit Pawar also faced criticism within the party after NCP state president and senior MLA Jayant Patil was suspended from the Assembly during the Winter Session for telling Speaker Rahul Narwekar not to act like “a shameless person”. While Patil refused to apologise, Ajit said sorry on his behalf. But this did not down well with his uncle, and the following morning, Sharad Pawar is said to have pulled him up. The NCP chief reportedly asked Ajit why he allowed Patil’s suspension to go through. Ajit did request that the suspension be revoked, but just once, acquiescing quietly when Fadnavis told the House that a decision would be taken after Shinde’s return from Delhi.
There was also a lot of talk about the Ajit Pawar-led Opposition allegedly targeting only MLAs from Shinde’s camp in the House. According to some insiders, the BJP, specifically Fadnavis, provided the NCP leader with information about ministers belonging to the Shinde Sena. MVA leaders in private also questioned Ajit Pawar’s strategy to boycott House proceedings during the Winter Session after raising allegations against the ministers, thus providing the ruling alliance with an opportunity to provide explanations and not face any cross-examination from the Opposition.
In March, the then Leader of the Opposition’s actions were again questioned following the registration of an FIR based on a complaint by Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Devendra Fadnavis, alleging a threat and the offer of a bribe. After Ajit Pawar raised the matter in the Assembly and demanded details, Devendra Fadnavis, in a long reply, alleged that the matter was an attempt to trap him and his family. Pawar did not question the Deputy CM further.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More
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