By the NewsPatron Political Desk
#MaharashtraPolitics #SharadPawar #NCPMerger #AjitPawarLegacy #Editorial
In politics, ignorance is never accidental. It is a weapon.
When Sharad Pawar, the patriarch of Maharashtra politics who is known to have eyes and ears in every district, stands before the press and claims he is “not aware” that Sunetra Pawar is taking the oath as Deputy Chief Minister, do not mistake it for a lapse in information. It is a declaration of distance.
The oath-taking ceremony in Mumbai is not just a transfer of power; it is the drawing of a battle line. The long-speculated merger of the two NCP factions—scheduled, by some accounts, for February 12—is no longer on the immediate horizon. In fact, it may be dead on arrival.
The Strategist in the Shadows: “Naresh Who?” ♟️
The most telling moment of recent events wasn’t about the family, but about an outsider. When asked about Naresh Arora, the political strategist steering the Ajit Pawar faction, Sharad Pawar dismissed him with a simple: “I don’t even know who he is.”
This single sentence clarifies everything. Arora, often dubbed by observers as the “new Prashant Kishor” of Maharashtra, has been instrumental in shaping the aggressive strategies of the rebel faction. By feigning ignorance, the senior Pawar is delegitimizing Arora’s influence, signaling to the party cadre that their “leaders” are being run by hired guns, not political heirs.
There is growing resentment among loyal grassroots workers (karyakartas) about “outsiders” running the show. Sharad Pawar knows this. His statement stokes that fire.
The Sunetra Gambit: Sympathy or Power Grab? ⚖️
The rush to elevate Sunetra Pawar to the Deputy CM post—barely three days after the tragedy—has split public opinion down the middle.
On one side, it is framed as a necessity: a move to stabilize the faction and keep the flock together. On the other, critics view it as a desperate dynastic power grab.
Why the hurry? The 40 MLAs aligned with the Ajit faction are terrified. They fear that a merger with Sharad Pawar would mean a “ghar wapsi” (homecoming) on the patriarch’s terms, potentially stripping them of their ministerial portfolios. Sunetra Pawar isn’t just a successor; she is their insurance policy against losing power.
The Merger Myth: Why It Won’t Happen Soon 🚫
Let’s look at the math. The Ajit Pawar faction currently holds nine ministerial berths. If the parties merge, senior leaders from Sharad Pawar’s camp—veterans like Jayant Patil and Jitendra Awhad—will demand their pound of flesh.
Would the current ministers voluntarily resign to make space? Unlikely.
The “practical politics” model introduced by the rebel faction clashes directly with the old guard’s expectations. While governance will continue, the formal reunification of the NCP has been pushed into an indefinite future. The family may be one, but the interests are now diametrically opposed.
Conclusion: The Stalemate
Sharad Pawar has played his hand: denial and distance. The rebel faction has played theirs: consolidation of power through Sunetra Pawar.
The merger was supposed to be the closing act of this drama. Instead, we are witnessing the opening scenes of a new conflict—one where legacy battles are fought not just with votes, but with silence.
🗣️ Let’s Connect: I’m Kumar, Editor at Newspatron.
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