The Uneasy Alliance: Ajit Pawar's Journey with the BJP
When Ajit Pawar led his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) into the BJP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti coalition in July 2023, it marked a seismic shift in Maharashtra's political landscape. This move, however, was far from smooth, representing the culmination of years of ambition and political maneuvering by the veteran leader.
A Calculated Political Gambit
Known affectionately as "Ajit dada" in political circles, Pawar had long struggled to emerge from the towering shadow of his uncle, Sharad Pawar. His decisive break in 2023 came with the support of senior leaders who had previously been loyal to his uncle, signaling a major realignment in state politics.
Despite receiving a grand welcome from BJP's central leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah's notable remark that "This is your rightful place, but you took a long time," an undercurrent of disquiet persisted within the state BJP. This unease stemmed from years of political rivalry and the BJP's previous targeting of Ajit Pawar over various allegations.
The Roots of Discomfort
The alliance faced its first major test during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when the Mahayuti performed poorly in Maharashtra. Right-wing commentators and BJP supporters pointed to the partnership with Ajit Pawar's NCP as a primary reason for this setback. In an RSS-affiliated weekly publication, it was noted that party workers had never fully accepted the alliance with the Deputy Chief Minister.
This skepticism was particularly striking given that just a week before Pawar's defection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had publicly targeted NCP leaders over their alleged involvement in various scams, including the irrigation scandal that had once ensnared Ajit Pawar himself.
Political Pragmatism Prevails
Despite these tensions, political compulsions drove the alliance forward. Ajit Pawar's ambitions to carve his own political path aligned perfectly with the BJP's strategic objective of weakening Sharad Pawar and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance that had kept them out of power since 2019.
Pawar's administrative expertise proved invaluable to the Mahayuti government. His experience as finance minister under multiple governments helped shape key policy decisions across crucial departments including agriculture, cooperatives, water resources, and rural development. His work ethic was legendary, with days beginning at 6 AM and a blunt, straightforward approach that kept bureaucrats on their toes.
Challenges Within the Coalition
The alliance years were not without turbulence for Ajit Pawar. He faced the difficult task of sacking two ministers from his party - Dhananjay Munde, whose close aide was allegedly involved in a murder case in Beed, and Manikrao Kokate, who stepped down over an alleged housing fraud.
Following the BJP's significant victory in the 2024 Assembly polls, municipal corporation elections presented new challenges. The BJP's expanding grassroots presence threatened the NCP's traditional strongholds, leading Ajit Pawar to enter into a pre-poll pact with his uncle for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation elections.
Public Sparring and Political Theater
This move resulted in intense electoral contests and public exchanges. Ajit Pawar framed the battle as one against "the demon of corruption," surprising BJP leaders with his direct attacks. "They are power hungry. There is open loot going on," he declared, while highlighting the transformation of Pimpri-Chinchwad during his and his uncle's leadership since 1991.
State BJP president Ravindra Chavan responded with visible discomfort, cautioning Pawar to "look into your own backyard" and warning that "if we open our mouths, he knows where it will lead." Ajit Pawar countered by noting the irony of his position: "While the BJP had earlier levelled all sorts of allegations against me, I am now sitting next to those very people in power."
The Grassroots Politician
What made Ajit Pawar particularly valuable was his deep understanding of Maharashtra's cooperative sector and agricultural landscape. An eight-term MLA from Baramati and multiple-term minister, he knew every taluka and irrigation project district-wise. His uncle once acknowledged his agricultural expertise, noting how meticulously he worked on his farmland.
Despite his political hustle and attempts to create his own identity, Ajit Pawar never achieved his ultimate ambition of becoming Chief Minister. When questioned about this possibility, he would laugh loudly and respond with characteristic pragmatism: "It feels nice when your workers raise slogans... but I am well aware of the ground reality. Politics is about numbers."
A Legacy of Political Pragmatism
Throughout his career, Ajit Pawar displayed the political pragmatism that made him a formidable force in Maharashtra politics. His alliance with the BJP represented the complex interplay of personal ambition, strategic calculation, and the harsh realities of coalition politics. While the partnership brought together former adversaries for mutual benefit, it remained an uneasy marriage of convenience, constantly tested by underlying tensions and competing interests within the political ecosystem.
This alliance, forged in the crucible of Maharashtra's dynamic political landscape, serves as a testament to how power, pragmatism, and personal ambition can create unlikely partnerships while never fully erasing the shadows of past rivalries and ideological differences.
