THE PAWAR CUT THAT ISN'T?

In what is seen as a battle of wits with nephew Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar dropped a bombshell on May 2, saying he intends to quit as party president. The announcement, at the launch of an updated edition of his biography, comes at a time when Ajit is said to be in talks with the BJP, leading to a flux within the NCP.

- Dhaval Kulkarni

Though Ajit vehemently denies the reports, sources say things could pick up pace after the Karnataka assembly election and the Supreme Court verdict on the cases regarding the June 2022 change of guard in Maharashtra, where Eknath Shinde and his band of rebels toppled the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of which the NCP was a part. An NCP group feeling the heat from the central investigation agencies is said to be eager to switch sides, with the effort being led by a national leader.

Pawar Sr's move is said to be an attempt to galvanise his forces and show Ajit who the boss is in the NCP. Alternatively, Pawar may be letting his nephew take over the reins in a détente to keep the NCP together. So, if the NCP decides to break ranks with the MVA, an emeritus status will help insulate him from responsibility. Pawar could even take the line that he is taking a 'democratic position', going with the wishes of the majority.

"Today, I have decided to step down as NCP president," said Pawar, taking the audience by surprise, adding that he would complete his Rajya Sabha term but would not contest elections in the future. The 82-year-old said that a panel of senior NCP leaders including Ajit, daughter Supriya Sule, Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and others would decide on the new party chief.