Sharad Pawar's Hamletian Dilemma Over NCP Merger After Nephew's Death
In a striking parallel to Shakespeare's classic tragedy Hamlet, veteran Maharashtra leader Sharad Pawar finds himself torn by a profound political dilemma. The central question revolves around whether to proceed with the merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party following the tragic death of his nephew, Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash.
Conflicting Statements on Merger Progress
While addressing reporters on Sunday, Sharad Pawar revealed that discussions regarding the unification of both NCP factions had reached their final stages. He specifically mentioned that a merger date had been scheduled for February 12. "Now we feel his wish should be fulfilled," Pawar stated, referring to his late nephew. "Ajit Pawar, Shashikant Shinde and Jayant Patil had initiated talks about the merger of the two factions. Even the merger date had been fixed -- it was scheduled for the 12th (February). Unfortunately, Ajit left us before that."
However, in a contradictory turn, Pawar also expressed uncertainty about whether both factions would ultimately proceed with the merger, creating confusion about the party's future direction.
The Core of Pawar's Political Dilemma
The crux of Sharad Pawar's predicament became apparent after Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar's widow, took oath as deputy chief minister in the Fadnavis cabinet. This move clearly indicated that the NCP, with its 41 MLAs, would remain part of the Mahayuti government. The decision gained further clarity when Sunetra responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message on social media platform X, thanking him for his "trust."
Now, Sharad Pawar must decide whether to compromise for the sake of party unity and enter into an alliance with the BJP, despite having repeatedly declared that he would not align with the BJP under any circumstances.
Family Tensions and Political Calculations
Within the Pawar family, significant discontent has emerged regarding Sunetra Pawar's decision to assume the deputy chief minister position merely three days after her husband's passing. According to close family associates, "The deputy chief minister's post is not a constitutional one and therefore, there was no need to arrange the oath-taking function on the fourth day after Ajit Pawar's passing." They added that had the NCP shown basic courtesy by waiting until the 12th or 13th day of mourning, the other faction might not have felt slighted.
Many family members now believe that by accepting the proposal without proper consultation, Sunetra has inadvertently walked into what they perceive as a BJP trap.
Leadership Succession and Party Dynamics
Due to health considerations, Sharad Pawar has gradually stepped back from active political engagement, even abstaining from campaigning during recent local body elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. In his absence, his daughter and NCP(SP) working president Supriya Sule has assumed greater responsibility and is increasingly viewed as his political heir.
As merger discussions intensify, speculation abounds regarding who would lead a unified NCP. Would it be Supriya Sule, or would someone from Ajit Pawar's faction assume leadership? Following the 2023 split, several leaders including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare gained prominence within Ajit Pawar's camp. A successful merger could potentially restore the Pawar family's control over the party, possibly marginalizing these emerging leaders.
Potential Impact on Party Strength
Should the merger materialize, political analysts suggest that several MLAs from both factions might defect due to ideological differences, potentially diminishing the NCP's strength in the Maharashtra Assembly. If a united NCP decides to join the opposition, numerous party legislators could oppose this move and potentially switch allegiance to the Shiv Sena or BJP.
Conversely, if the party chooses to maintain its alliance with the BJP and Shiv Sena, those aligned with Sharad Pawar's opposition group might resist compromising on their commitment to the Phule-Ambedkar-Shahu ideological framework.
Conflicting Claims from Both Factions
Leaders from both NCP factions have presented contradictory claims regarding the late NCP chief's intentions concerning the merger. While some NCP leaders characterized their collaboration for local body elections as a temporary arrangement, several NCP(SP) leaders maintained that merger negotiations were nearing completion.
Senior NCP(SP) leader Jayant Patil disclosed on Saturday that the late Ajit Pawar had been eager to reunite with his uncle Sharad Pawar, having conducted multiple meetings to facilitate the merger. "He visited my house on multiple occasions and held talks over dinner," Patil revealed. "He said he wanted to reunite with his uncle by getting over the past. On January 16, we decided to contest the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections together, and the announcement of the formal merger was to be made on February 12."
This followed a January 17 meeting between Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, where discussions reportedly centered on the merger. However, NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare denied any merger discussions, asserting that the January 17 meeting focused solely on local body elections and an agriculture-related event.
Recent Electoral Performance and Historical Context
Despite both factions contesting recent local body polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad together, the united Nationalist Congress Party suffered significant setbacks. In the 165-member Pune Municipal Corporation, the NCP secured 27 seats while the NCP(SP) managed only three, compared to the BJP's commanding tally of 119 seats. In the 102-member Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body, Ajit Pawar's faction won 37 seats while Sharad Pawar's group failed to secure any, as the BJP dominated with 84 seats.
The current political situation traces back to 2023 when Ajit Pawar, accompanied by several senior leaders, split from Sharad Pawar and allied with the BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. Ajit had expressed reservations about Sharad Pawar continuing to lead the party despite his advanced age. Following this move, Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister under the new alliance, and the Election Commission subsequently recognized his faction as the legitimate NCP, allowing them to retain the party's distinctive 'clock' symbol.
