In a seismic move that has sent shockwaves across the Indian political landscape, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, along with 30 MLAs, has made a surprise decision to join the NDA and the Maharashtra administration. This action is considered as a big boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, especially as it gets up for the critical 2024 races. Simultaneously, it throws a significant blow to the opposition’s cohesiveness, with the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi being hammered the hardest.
Sources within the NCP have disclosed that the MLAs were unhappy by Ajit Pawar’s close affiliation with Rahul Gandhi, which led to their decision to split away from the party. While NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has kept mute on the topic, suspicion is widespread over his implicit agreement of Ajit Pawar’s decision.
The Congress party’s efforts to present Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate have sparked anger among other opposition groups. The defection of Ajit Pawar and the 30 NCP MLAs to the NDA further exposes the chaos and lack of cohesion among the opposition ranks.
This political earthquake in Maharashtra politics follows the recent collapse in the governing partnership between Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With Ajit Pawar poised to take oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, joined by important politicians like Praful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, the NDA is likely to experience a considerable expansion of its cabinet.
As this tale continues to emerge, it remains to be seen how the opposition will respond and if they can recover in the face of these losses. The political environment in Maharashtra has been irrevocably transformed, and its implications will definitely be felt as the nation hurtles towards the vital 2024 elections.