NCP leader Ajit Pawar has expressed regret over his decision to field his wife against Supriya Sule in Baramati. He has admitted that this was a mistake and that politics should not enter family matters. This statement has sparked speculation that Ajit Pawar might be seeking to reconcile with his uncle, Sharad Pawar.

Ajit Pawar, who is currently the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, made this comment on Tuesday. He said that appointing his wife as a candidate against Supriya Sule was a mistake and that politics should be kept out of family affairs. He also mentioned that all his sisters are dear to him and admitted that the decision to field his wife was wrong.

Political circles are interpreting Ajit Pawar’s statement as an attempt to mend his relationship with Sharad Pawar. This comes at a time when many leaders and legislators who joined him after the NCP rebellion are distancing themselves. Maharashtra’s assembly elections are coming up in the next few months.

The Background

In 2023, Ajit Pawar rebelled against his uncle Sharad Pawar’s NCP and joined the Maha Yuti alliance. He was appointed Deputy Chief Minister in Eknath Shinde’s cabinet. Ajit claimed that 40 NCP legislators were with him, and eight of his loyalists were also sworn in as ministers. He took control of the party symbol ‘clock’.

During the Lok Sabha elections following the rebellion, Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, contested against Supriya Sule from Baramati. Supriya Sule, representing Sharad Pawar’s NCP, won the election. This defeat was a blow to Ajit Pawar, highlighting the power struggle between him and his uncle.

Since the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar’s political influence seems to have waned. He has been facing challenges in maintaining his position and influence. Reports suggest that there are expectations of a possible reunion within the Pawar family, especially with Ajit Pawar facing pressure from various fronts, including his dissatisfaction with the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and his exclusion from the Narendra Modi cabinet.

Rebellion and Its Aftermath

After his rebellion, Ajit Pawar also laid claim to the NCP’s name and symbol. The Election Commission and the Assembly Speaker initially supported his claim. However, this issue went to the Supreme Court, which ruled that Ajit Pawar’s faction could use the ‘clock’ symbol, while Sharad Pawar’s faction would be known as NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and use the ‘turahi’ symbol.

The Maha Yuti alliance faced a major defeat in the Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, which contested 28 seats, won only 9. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena contested 15 seats but won just 7. Ajit Pawar’s NCP won only one out of the four seats it contested, a sharp drop from their previous performance.