'Friendly fire' in Maharashtra's Mahayuti alliance: Why Deputy CM Ajit Pawar launched calcuated attacks on BJP
The infighting within the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra politics is now coming out into the open. Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar's sharp attacks on his own alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have created a stir in state politics. While Ajit Pawar spoke of "slaying the demon of corruption" and called his allies "power-hungry," state BJP president Ravindra Chavan retaliated, saying he "regretted" the alliance.
This Mahayuti alliance has been considered uneasy from the start. It is an alliance based more on political expediency than ideological similarity. Last Friday, amidst the ongoing local body elections in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar's statements brought this unease to the public forum. Targeting the BJP's rule in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation from 2017 to 2022, he said his objective was to "eliminate the demon of corruption." He alleged that "open looting was going on" and that the BJP leadership was power-hungry.
NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has allied with Sharad Pawar faction
In his speech, Ajit Pawar also stated that this municipal corporation near Pune had witnessed tremendous development during the tenure of his uncle Sharad Pawar and later during his own term (from 1991 onwards). He claimed that there was no misuse of power during that period. This statement comes at a time when his party has allied with the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in the local elections, making the BJP uncomfortable. Ajit Pawar then took a dig at other Mahayuti allies, especially the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
There is an atmosphere of fear: Ajit
Regarding the issue of candidates winning unopposed, he said that unopposed elections had happened before, but they were conducted democratically and constitutionally. Today, the situation is such that there is an atmosphere of fear in some areas, and candidates are afraid to even file their nominations.
It is noteworthy that 68 candidates of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance were elected unopposed. After this the State Election Commission has stayed the announcement of the results and sought a report. Ajit Pawar's statements clearly angered the BJP.
State BJP president Ravindra Chavan issued an indirect warning, saying, “Look within yourselves. If we start speaking, everyone knows the consequences.” He also said he regretted the alliance with Ajit Pawar and had already advised party leaders to maintain distance from the NCP.
Bawankule also advised Ajit to exercise restraint
Revenue Minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule also advised Ajit Pawar to exercise restraint on public platforms. He reminded him that it had been decided in the alliance coordination meeting that the allies would not criticize each other during the elections. Despite this, Ajit Pawar broke the agreement.
This situation is particularly surprising for the BJP because until now it had faced more difficulties with the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). Before the local elections, there was a fierce competition between the two parties to poach local leaders. In contrast, the BJP's relationship with Ajit Pawar and the NCP had been relatively smooth until now.
Political necessity brought the two NCP factions closer
The political necessity of stopping the BJP in areas like Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad brought the two NCP factions closer. After a resounding victory in the 2024 assembly elections, the BJP's strategy is to strengthen its base at the grassroots level so that it doesn't have to depend on allies in the future. With 137 MLAs in the 288-member assembly, the BJP needs only a few more seats for a majority, which it can secure from smaller parties and independents.
A stronger BJP could diminish the bargaining power of allies
This is a cause for concern for its allies. A stronger BJP could diminish their bargaining power. In this context, Ajit Pawar's aggressive stance is being seen as a political necessity—to keep his larger ally in check and send a message to his core voters.
The problem for the BJP is that it had made transparency and accountability its main issues when it returned to power. In this situation, an accusation of corruption from an ally could damage his image. However, senior BJP leaders are not holding back in their counter-attack. One minister said that he doesn't need a certificate of honesty from Ajit Pawar, while another leader reminded everyone of the Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam in which Ajit Pawar's name had once surfaced.
Prakash Kumar Pandey