The Ajit Pawar dilemma…
Continuing the previous blog, now let’s look at a few key pointers that might unfold in this whole NCP mystery. So when Ajit Pawar and faction distanced themselves from Sharad Pawar, Sharad Pawar made a very important announcement. The announcement was that of not using his photo anywhere. It was a very important and prompt call Sharad Pawar took. Now just to ask, what is Ajit Pawar going to do during elections? By attending NDA’s meeting yesterday under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi it is clear that Ajit Pawar is here to stay with the NDA. Cut 2, it is election time next year. Now for any election what is the most important factor for any candidate? It is the poster! Now tell me whose photo will Ajit Pawar and the rest of the MLA’s WILL put? Will he go for PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, President JP Nadda, CM Eknath Shinde and DCM Fadnavis OR Sharad Pawar and NCP leaders?
Answer is Ajit Pawar has no other option but to merge into BJP now. Because Sharad Pawar has denied them any usage of his photo anywhere. And now after doing all the coup, has Ajit Pawar realised that there is no substitute to Sharad Pawar at least for him and the MLA’s that defected? Ajit must have realised that he just cannot go in Maharashtra and ask for votes, that is if he does not merge into BJP. Now if he merges into BJP what about his own firebrand image of Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar ideology that Ajit has practiced all life? People don’t forget this easily. Only time will tell and hence the whole episode of meeting Sharad Pawar at YB Chavan centre came after 8 days of swearing-in.
When Ajit Pawar and his ministers went to meet Sharad Pawar, first, what was the need for him to go there? Why did he go without intimating Pawar or taking prior appointment? He was asked to wait for a good one hour. When Sharad Pawar did not pay any heed and remained mum on all the requests made by Praful Patel and Bhujbal, second day Ajit took all the MLA’s who had defected from SP. Again one of the MLA tells me in the entire meeting, Sharad Pawar did not utter a single word on ‘politics’. When one of the MLA begged for a way out, Sharad Pawar very calmly replied, ‘It is you people who have chosen your path, and it is up to you to find the path and not for me to guide’. Like a shrewd politician Sharad Pawar both days enjoyed that ‘cruel’ joy of knowing that Ajit and his cronies cannot function without using his name. He was happy inside that these people came and begged him to join the NDA.
“But knowing Pawar and what he spoke to his closest associates I have my doubts Pawar will ever go with the NDA. Because for nearly 70 years, Pawar has fought with BJP and he wouldn’t want his last few years to be a man known who changed his ideology of Shahu, Phule and Ambedkar and that too for his nephew Ajit. He might have made political compromises, but ideology change is difficult”, claims a MLA closest to him. The MLA continues, it has immensely hurt Sharad Pawar that the likes of Ajit Pawar made a comment on his age, Chagan Bhujbal’s speech at Nashik and Praful Patel’s book remark, he says it was because of Saheb that Ajit was spared by many in the past, it was because of Saheb that Praful Patel even became a Minister at the Centre after losing Loksabha elections. Putting everything behind right now, Sharad Pawar is enjoying this desperation of Ajit Pawar and also the rumours spread by the Ajit camp that soon Sharad Pawar will join hands with the NDA. I said to the MLA, but isn’t it a rule for Sharad Pawar–Never say never !!
At the end, surely there is a dilemma in which both Pawar’s are. Sharad Pawar is upset and Ajit Pawar’s future remains uncertain if he does not join the BJP. But of all, there is a sudden jump in the rise of popularity of Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad now within the Sharad Pawar camp whereas in the camp of Ajit Pawar every karyakarta wants something or the other. Heard Bhujbal demanded Food & Civil Supply even when Ajit Pawar was not keen on giving it to him. As for Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad, One can remain a political poster boy and the other one can become the ‘ideology’ face of the NCP. Also apart from these 8 to 9 ministers who have sworn in, I feel a majority of the MLA’s will go back to the feet of Sharad Pawar if they do not join the BJP as getting re-elected will be extremely tough for them. You tell me will Ajit Pawar and company go to Pune and talk ill about his uncle and mentor during campianing?Will he or any other leader wash dirty linen in public? I don’t think but on the other hand Sharad Pawar and the likes of Supriya Sule, Jayant Patil and Awhad have full license to go all guns blazing against Ajit and company. Time for Ajit to take a serious call, as this man at 83 ain’t budging, at least for now!!
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
