Sharad Pawar on assembly polls: "the picture will be different"

Sharad Pawar, the supremo of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), indicated on Friday that the party's approach to seat-sharing in the upcoming assembly elections would differ significantly from their strategy in the Lok Sabha polls.

Pawar's remarks came during two meetings held in Pune – one with party functionaries from Pune city and district, and another with MLAs and newly-elected MPs.

During the Lok Sabha elections, the NCP (SP) chose to contest fewer seats than its allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to maintain the alliance's integrity with Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, according to Prashant Jagtap, Pune city NCP (SP) chief. However, Pawar hinted that the assembly elections would see a different scenario.

"He indicated that the picture in the assembly polls will be different," Jagtap conveyed, emphasizing that the party would be more assertive in seeking seats.

Pawar also reviewed the political landscape in various assembly segments within the Pune, Baramati, Maval, and Shirur Lok Sabha constituencies during his meetings. He urged MPs and MLAs to gear up for the assembly elections.

State NCP (SP) chief Jayant Patil mentioned that the party has not yet determined the number of seats it will seek in the MVA seat-sharing discussions. Regarding the Baramati assembly seat, currently held by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of the rival NCP faction, Patil stated that Sharad Pawar would make the final decision on the candidate.

Anil Deshmukh, another senior NCP (SP) leader, addressed questions about the alliance dynamics within the MVA, stating, "There is no 'elder brother and younger brother' in the MVA. All are equal."

Deshmukh also noted the apprehension among MLAs aligned with the Ajit Pawar faction following the Lok Sabha results. Some MLAs have reached out to Patil and other NCP (SP) leaders for guidance. "Let's see what is to be done with them," Deshmukh added.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the NCP (SP) won eight out of the ten seats it contested, while the Ajit Pawar-led faction secured only one of the four seats it vied for.