Sharad Pawar hints at major shuffle in NCP, Ajit's future in the party uncertain

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar has hinted at a major shuffle in the party. Pawar’s statement that “Bhakri must be flipped otherwise it will burn,” assumes significance amidst the rumbling in the NCP.

It could be a message to Ajit Pawar, whose future political moves are a mystery.

Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil is also said to be restless because of Ajit's dominance in the party.

Speaking at an event organised by the NCP’s youth wing in Mumbai, the senior Pawar said, “Bhakri must be flipped, otherwise it will burn. Therefore, it is time to flip it. We cannot delay it anymore.”

Pawar’s comment is seen as an indication of major changes in the NCP. There are reports that Ajit is trying to rally party MLAs, in case the NCP gets an opportunity to pick its CM. Such a situation will arise if Eknath Shinde and 15 other Shiv Sena MLAs are disqualified under the anti-defection law after the Supreme Court order. In that case, the NCP will become the single largest party in the MVA and can push for the CM's post either as part of MVA or with the help from the BJP.

However, Sharad Pawar is not too happy with Ajit’s domination in the party. According to sources, he wants to elevate Jayant Patil’s stature in the party.
 so that Ajit can be kept in check.

A former state minister, who did not wish to be named, said, "After Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the chief minister's post and Shinde formed the government, Sharad Pawar had promised the post of the Leader of Opposition to Patil. But Ajit did not budge and grabbed the post. Patil is still unhappy over it."

However, this was not the first time that Ajit has frustrated Patil. The minister said that Ajit's revolt in 2019, when he tried to form a government with Devendra Fadnavis, was done to stop Sharad Pawar from making Patil the deputy chief minister. "Ajit was not the DCM of Sharad Pawar's choice. He wanted Jayant Patil on the post. Ajit realised it and moved swiftly to take oath as the DCM with Fadnavis as the CM. Though that government lasted for only 80 hours, it forced Sharad Pawar to accept Ajit as his party's DCM candidate," he said.

Ajit Pawar on Thursday said he would pay attention to Sharad Pawar, the same way Maharashtra Navnirman  Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray paid to his. Though Ajit's comment was retort to Raj's 'advice' to him, it is pertinent to note that the MNS chief parted ways with his uncle and Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray, in 2006 to start his own outfit. In an interview conducted by Amruta Fadnavis and NCP MP Amol Kolhe, Raj said that Ajit Pawar should pay his uncle the same kind of attention he pays outside.

Meanwhile, despite Ajit Pawar himself expressing his displeasure, posters claiming him as the future CM continue to come in the state. Banners proclaiming him as a "future CM" have also been put up in Ulhasnagar, Dharashiv (Osmanabad) and Nagpur among other places.

Some of the party legislators are also publicly calling him the future CM. NCP MLC, while speaking at an event said, "Ajit Pawar is the people's choice as the CM. There is no other leader in Maharashtra as capable as Ajit Pawar to run the state. And it will happen. Just wait for a few more days."

The talks about Ajit's bid for the CM post have started after the NCP leader expressed his desire for the post earlier this week. To a question whether the NCP will get its chief minister in 2024, Ajit had said, "Why 2024? We can claim it even today."