Sharad Pawar's NCP faces historic low, signals end of an era

Sharad Pawar, a towering figure in Indian politics, has hinted at stepping away from active politics following the conclusion of his Rajya Sabha term in 2026.

At 83, the veteran leader is grappling with one of the most challenging phases of his political career, as his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faces its worst-ever performance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

As of Saturday afternoon, the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP was leading in just 13 of Maharashtra's 288 seats, despite contesting 87 - a dismal strike rate of 14.94%. This marks a stark contrast to the faction's stellar performance in the Lok Sabha elections six months earlier, where it boasted an 80% strike rate.

Adding to the setback, Sharad Pawar’s faction trails significantly behind the rival group led by Ajit Pawar, which is ahead in 39 seats. This Assembly election is the second major contest between the two factions since Ajit Pawar’s split from the NCP last year. While Sharad Pawar claimed a decisive victory in the Lok Sabha polls, reinforcing his faction’s legitimacy, the Assembly elections appear to favor Ajit Pawar’s camp.

Sharad Pawar’s political journey spans nearly six decades, beginning with his rise as Maharashtra’s youngest Chief Minister at 38 in 1978. Over the years, he served four terms as Chief Minister, held key portfolios like Defence and Agriculture in the Union Cabinet, and narrowly missed becoming Prime Minister in 1991.

In 1999, Pawar broke away from the Congress after challenging Sonia Gandhi's leadership due to her foreign origins, forming the NCP. Under his leadership, the NCP became a formidable force in Maharashtra, often aligning with the Congress and playing a pivotal role in the UPA government at the Center. As Agriculture Minister for a decade, Pawar cemented his reputation as a seasoned statesman.

Pawar’s knack for building cross-party alliances was evident in 2019 when he orchestrated the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), bringing together the NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena in an unlikely coalition. Despite skepticism about its longevity, the alliance endured significant political turmoil, including splits within the Shiv Sena and NCP.

The undivided NCP won 54 seats in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, surpassing its ally Congress, which secured 44. However, this time, Sharad Pawar’s faction is set to record its lowest tally, trailing both Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, which itself faced a split after Eknath Shinde’s rebellion in 2022.

Earlier this month, Sharad Pawar hinted at retirement during an event in his Baramati stronghold, from where he has been elected MLA or MP 14 times. Reflecting on his legacy and future, he remarked, "I am not in power... My tenure in the Rajya Sabha has one-and-a-half years left. After that, I will not contest any election in the future. I will have to stop somewhere."