The Maharashtra Assembly election results, delivered a resounding verdict in the battle of the Pawars, with Ajit Pawar’s faction decisively outpacing Sharad Pawar’s camp. Ajit’s NCP, a part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, clinched 29 direct contests against the Sharad-led group and claimed wins or leads in 41 of the 59 seats it contested.
Sharad Pawar, despite his towering stature in Indian politics, saw his faction struggle. His group contested 86 seats but could only secure 10 victories, landing at the bottom of the six major parties.
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Ajit Pawar, who had faced a significant defeat earlier when his wife Sunetra lost in Baramati to Sharad’s daughter Supriya Sule in the Lok Sabha polls, bounced back with a personal victory. He defeated his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, in the family bastion by over 1 lakh votes, handing Sharad Pawar his first loss in Baramati.
Among Ajit’s faction’s notable wins were Dhananjay Munde’s massive lead in Parli, Sana Malik’s victory over Fahad Ahmad in Anushaktinagar, and Chhagan Bhujbal’s triumph in Yeola. Ministers like Aditi Tatkare and Dilip Walse Patil also held their ground, showcasing the Mahayuti’s consolidated strength.
Sharad Pawar’s faction may have garnered a higher vote share at 11.29 percent compared to Ajit Pawar’s 9.01 percent, but this support didn’t translate into seats. His appeal to voters to decisively reject the “traitors” was largely ignored. Some key wins for his camp included Jayant Patil in Islampur and Jitendra Awhad in Mumbra Kalwa, but these were overshadowed by the dominant performance of Ajit’s faction.
The results are a stark reflection of the split within the NCP, which has been reeling since Ajit Pawar walked out with 41 MLAs last year to join the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. For Maharashtra voters, it seems, the drama within the Pawar family was less compelling than the Mahayuti’s cohesive pitch.