SUNDAY, the July 2, 2023, proved to be a shocker for many, if not all. For the common people and ordinary political workers, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) heavyweights led by Mr. Ajit Pawar taking oath as ministers in the Maharashtra Government led by Mr. Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister and Mr. Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy Chief Minister, came as a huge shock. For the political observers, switching of sides by Mr. Ajit Pawar and others was expected and just a matter of time. Whatever it may be, but the revolt is going to have a deep impact on Maharashtra politics. The subsequent press conferences addressed by Mr. Ajit Pawar and Mr. Sharad Pawar separately on Sunday led many to think of parallels between Shiv Sena revolt led by Mr. Shinde last year and the latest one involving NCP. Since Mr. Shinde’s revolt, Mr. Thackeray has lost the name of his party -- Shiv Sena -- and original party symbol of bow and arrow as Mr. Shinde claimed the control over the party on the strength of a big majority of elected legislators and Members of Parliament. Similarly, Mr. Ajit Pawar has staked claim over the name and symbol of NCP. Mr. Sharad Pawar’s dejection was visible, because he had not probably anticipated so many of NCP MLAs to side with Mr. Ajit Pawar.

 

Though he maintained that he was not bothered, his crestfallen look indicated otherwise. Mr. Sharad Pawar and others are now raising the issues of morality and political ethics. Ironically, it all started years ago with Mr. Sharad Pawar’s revolt for political gains. Mr. Uddhav Thackeray sacrificing the electoral mandate of alliance and political ethics at the altar of selfish ambition of becoming Chief Minister in 2019, has triggered the latest round of political hobnob. So, the people who sacrificed morality are questioning why has someone else played the game with them, inflicting probably a lasting damage. There are many theories as to what has each party achieved. The single largest party in State, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), allowing NCP breakaway group to join it in Government has left supporters surprised that the party trucked with leaders facing probe in various matters including the irrigation scam. Some also wondered if BJP had just repaid to the political backstabbing done in the past by Mr. Uddhav Thackeray and Mr. Sharad Pawar. Whatever be the case, but given the increased numerical strength of the triangular alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP group led by Mr. Ajit Pawar, BJP-led Central Government will be at advantage in Maharashtra when it comes to passing of crucial Bills including the one for contentious Uniform Civil Code. Also, BJP will have advantage in preparations for the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections next year. Amid all this, irrespective of the criticism he is facing, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis of BJP has emerged as a sharp politician with firm administrative grip.

 

He has dealt fatal blows to arrogance of Mr. Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, and matched the cunning of Mr. Sharad Pawar in the game of politics. Coming to Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction), it has already been reduced to insignificance. Mr. Thackeray is ably aided by Mr. Sanjay Raut in making nasty comments, and losing image rapidly among voters, irrespective of the image-building on social media. He appears to have failed to assess that one has to strike a right balance of social media presence for narrative building, and reaching out to voters through a robust party organisation. As far as Congress is concerned, it is non-plussed as usual. Instead of engaging in formulation of vision for development, the current Maharashtra leadership of Congress has reduced itself to criticising the BJP-led Government, and making comments which the prominent leaders have stopped responding to. With Mr. Ajit Pawar joining the Shinde-Fadnavis Government, and Thackeray group of Shiv Sena weakened, Congress is in a position to claim the post of Leader of Opposition. But, its leadership did not seize the opportunity. Acting swifly, Mr. Sharad Pawar has named Mr. Jitendra Awhad as Leader of Opposition in place of Mr. Ajit Pawar. So, for Congress to claim that position on the basis of numerical strength, has become difficult. Talking of NCP, Mr. Sharad Pawar has got a rude shock. Over past some time, his dubious distinction as a master of deceit and double-standards has overshadowed his political repute of years. He is known for orchestrating revolts in political parties, parting ways from friends for selfish political gains, and joining hands with rivals. So, even the parties opposing BJP do not trust him fully. Also, people have realised that he has been shielding casteist hate-speech makers in his party, and grooming a band of self-proclaimed historians who plant baseless theories to distort history.

 

These factors have prevented him from expanding area of his influence beyond a certain belt in Western part of State. Many feel that he is reaping what he sowed in his political career. As for the road ahead for State politics, if Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), Shiv Sena (Thackeray) contest the forthcoming elections as dissipated MVA, they may not even find candidates at all the seats, leave alone building strong respective party organisation before the Lok Sabha elections next year. If they contest separately, BJP and its allies in Mr. Shinde and Mr. Ajit Pawar will gain. Thus, the Revolt 2.0 led by Mr. Ajit Pawar has impacted the dynamics of Maharashtra politics for all the parties. How deep is the impact, and who does it favour more, will become clearer in due course of time, especially with the results of Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections next year.