NCP Mutiny: Will Ajit Pawar’s Alliance With BJP-Shiv Sena Survive?

In the wake of the NCP mutiny, Ajit Pawar is making active efforts to assume control of the party by getting a majority of NCP MLAs on his side, just like Eknath Shinde did last year. Pawar recently took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister after joining hands with BJP and Shiv Sena. However, in his recent meetings with NCP leaders, Ajit Pawar expressed his desire to become Maharashtra’s Chief Minister in the future, which directly threatens the position of both CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. This has raised serious questions on whether Pawar’s current alliance with the BJP and Shiv Sena will stand the test of time.
After the 2019 Assembly elections, Ajit Pawar had earlier held an alliance with Devendra Fadnavis as well and took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister with Fadnavis as the CM. But their alliance lasted for just a few days, as NCP withdrew with Sharad Pawar’s backing. A similar situation has been repeated this week, and will be vital for BJP and Shiv Sena to make sure that it does not turn out to be their political blunder. But at the end of the day, the NCP mutiny has certainly turned the odds in BJP and Shiv Sena’s favour ahead of the national and Maharashtra state elections, which are both due next year.

Image source: PTI