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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who also heads the ruling faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has invited party leaders from all districts of the state for a special meeting in Mumbai on Friday. The meeting comes two days after the conclusion of a high-octane Winter Session of the Assembly.
Here are five things that are likely to be on the agenda of the meeting.
The Pawar Senior factor
Following his revolt and subsequent inclusion in the state’s ruling alliance, Ajit and his associates have kept a keen watch on NCP founder Sharad Pawar whose political acumen and moves have often stumped rivals and allies alike.
Ajit failed to get Pawar Senior on his side despite numerous attempts. On the other hand, Pawar has repeatedly ruled out joining hands with the BJP and remains a key member of the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties.
A senior NCP minister admitted that elderly voters in many constituencies had not shifted their allegiance to Ajit. “They are with him (Sharad Pawar). Though young voters are divided, Sharad Pawar’s influence cannot be overlooked. We are keenly watching and assessing his move as he has not stopped touring the state and meeting people,” the minister said on the condition of anonymity.
Seat-sharing for Lok Sabha and Ajit’s stature
The Ajit faction is also trying to figure out a seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha elections and this issue is likely to be the fulcrum of discussions at the meeting.
The state has 48 Lok Sabha seats and while the Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde heads the three-party ruling alliance, the BJP is the single-largest party with 106 Assembly seats and is likely to stake claim on at least 24 Lok Sabha constituencies. The remaining will then be shared between the Sena and Ajit’s NCP. The Sena has said it is keen on contesting the 18 seats that the party, then undivided, won in the 2019 elections. Following the Shiv Sena’s announcement, Ajit told The Indian Express last month that every party had a right to demand more seats but seat-sharing talks were yet to be held. At the party’s study workshop in Karjat of Raigad district, Ajit said his party would contest four constituencies for sure: Baramati, Satara, Shirur, and Raigad.
The perception that Shinde is being preferred over Ajit in the ruling alliance is likely to arise if the seat division between Sena and NCP is not equitable, thus damaging Ajit’s image within his cohort of leaders and among the electorate.
Maratha-OBC tangle and Bhujbal
The NCP, which is considered to be a party of Marathas, has also been left on the tenterhooks due to the ongoing Maratha agitation for reservation. To make matters worse — and adding to its fear — is state Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s criticism of the face of the agitation, Manoj Jarange-Patil.
Bhujbal, who is considered to be one of the tallest OBC leaders in the state, urged the backward classes to retaliate in the same vein against “violence” by Marathas who are demanding OBC reservation in the Kunbi category. “The Maratha agitation and OBC backlash need to be dealt with seriously as it will impact voting. We are bound to face these challenges while appealing for votes,” the minister said.
The Nawab Malik conundrum
The scheduled meeting comes close on the heels of a stormy Assembly session, where the ruling alliance was cornered by the Opposition over the inclusion of NCP MLA Nawab Malik in its fold.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s open letter to Ajit urging him not to include Malik in his ranks because of his alleged links to gangster Dawood Ibrahim embarrassed Ajit further. Making the matter worse for the Deputy CM, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) raked up alleged links between Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel and Iqbal Mirchi, an alleged Dawood aide.
The issues seemed to be playing heavily on Ajit’s mind as he stayed shy of attacking the Opposition in the House while Shinde and Fadnavis took them on fiercely.
EC proceedings
Following the split, both factions approached the Election Commission (EC) staking claim to the party symbol and name. Even as the ruling faction is confident of the poll panel’s verdict coming in their favour, leaders feel a clear strategy needs to be finalised soon.
A functionary said heads of various frontal cells and key leaders would attend the daylong meeting and finalise the party’s strategy before seat-sharing talks with other members of the ruling alliance. “Ajit will take feedback, based on which the party will finalise its next move,” the leader said.
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