Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, who was a frontrunner for the post of Maharashtra deputy chief minister, today did not attend a party meeting to discuss the issue of portfolio allocation after Chhagan Bhujbal was named deputy chief minister by the NCP.
The meeting, held at the residence of senior NCP leader and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel in Mumbai, was attended by Bhujbal, NCP state unit president R R Patil, among others.
Ajit Pawar’s displeasure was obvious: he lost the coveted post of deputy CM to Other Backward Class strongman Bhujbal, despite 55 of the 62 newly elected NCP MLAs had signed a letter supporting his candidature for the post.
But it is believed that Ajit Pawar lost the post due to deepening political differences between him and his uncle, NCP supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, his distant relationship with Praful Patel and an alleged threat of “quitting the party” issued by Bhujbal.
Ajit, however, was seen as a young leader in the NCP very much in the mould of a younger Sharad Pawar. He served as the irrigation minister in the outgoing Maharashtra government.
“We had prepared a letter supporting Ajit dada’s candidature, but the outcome was surprising and shocking. We have heard that certain serious issues have forced NCP chief Sharad Pawar to appoint Bhujbal to this post. This is not a welcome sign for the party,” a newly elected NCP MLA from Pune district and a close friend of Ajit Pawar told Business Standard.
Ajit Pawar did not fully endorse Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule’s entry into the state politics. He also developed a cadre in the NCP that was loyal to him personally.
“Ajit dada’s aggressive nature does not go along well with other NCP leaders. His capabilities threaten other party leaders and hence, they have come together to oppose Ajit Pawar’s nomination for the deputy chief minister’s position,” an NCP MLA from the neighbouring Satara district said.
Political observers believe Ajit Pawar, in a bid to strengthen his claim over the deputy CM’s post, had gathered support from a few Congress leaders as well. “Supporters of the Maratha brand of politics from the Congress would always support Ajit Pawar over Chhagan Bhujbal. He has close friends in the Congress and they were lobbying for him since the results were announced,” a top Congress leader from Pune stated.
Although none of the NCP leaders openly admit that Bhujbal had threatened to quit over the deputy CM’s post, they concede there might be some truth in this. “Even Pawar saheb (Sharad Pawar) has had differences with Ajit Pawar over allocation of tickets before elections. The two Pawars do not necessarily get along over some issues. And in the given situation, the NCP cannot afford to lose a leader like Bhujbal who represents the OBCs in the state,” an NCP leader and minister in the last Cabinet told Business Standard.
Despite the recent developments, Pawar is likely to continue in the state Cabinet. But the resentment among his supporters over Bhujbal’s election as deputy CM may create rift within the party.
