Combative Pawar may become kingmaker

In perhaps one of the most confusing elections witnessed in Maharashtra over the years, veteran politician Sharad Pawar is emerging as the possible kingmaker, whose party, the NCP (SP), could become the largest single outfit after the declaration of results.
Pawar, who enjoys the support of leading Mumbai industrialists and is considered by his detractors as the most deceptive leader in the country, has this time, put the BJP and its allies on the defensive. This has enabled the Maha Vikas Aghadi as it exists, to enjoy a clear edge over the Mahayuti where the BJP’s position is getting shaky under the weight of its non-performing allies.
Pawar has played the emotional card by declaring that this would be his final election, and he would withdraw himself from electoral politics after that. The announcement has created a sort of sympathy wave for him. The Marathas are also unhappy with the BJP since Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that Eknath Shinde is the Chief Minister at present, but the decision on the head of the government would only be taken after the outcome.
It is evident that the BJP is pitching for a non-Maratha, and election posters and hoardings in the state only show Devendra Fadnavis with the Prime Minister prominently, thus making it clear that he was the saffron brigade’s choice. The message is loud and clear that Eknath Shinde would not be in the reckoning, something which has been recognized by Pawar, who is already making political overtures towards him.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest that in places where Pawar’s party is pitted against Shinde’s candidates, the veteran has not been campaigning aggressively, keeping the focus of his attack on the BJP. The Ajit Pawar faction is already collapsing and the Deputy CM has now repeatedly been stating publicly that he had made a mistake by pitting his wife against cousin Supriya Sule from Baramati in the Parliamentary elections. Many Maharashtra experts feel that Ajit Pawar is the weakest link in the Mahayuti and thus could be the reason why the MVA is in a stronger position.
Uddhav Thackeray is campaigning with all guns blazing and has not spared the BJP leaders for breaking parties in order to form a government with the help of defectors, thus exploding the myth of the BJP being a party with a difference. He is a firm favourite for the top job and there is a sympathy factor working in his favour as well.
Pawar is responding to the unfolding situation in a very strategic manner and was the first one to criticize Yogi Adityanath for making his controversial statement of “Katenge to Batenge” during the campaign. Pawar lashed out at Yogi and claimed that this kind of speech does not sit well with the people of his state and therefore, it was irrelevant. Some BJP leaders have also endorsed Pawar’s comments stating that this nature of divisive slogans were out of place in Maharashtra.
Like in Haryana, the Prime Minister has now withdrawn himself from field campaigning primarily because of two reasons. Narendra Modi, who is a battle-scarred warrior, knows that if he holds meetings towards the end, the party cadres may all throng to make the rallies a success, thus leaving the work in their respective constituencies. Secondly, by being away, and in case of the defeat, the blame of the debacle would remain on the local leadership of the Mahayuti.
Shah, who has been on the forefront, has tried to introduce all kinds of divisive elements in the campaign, and his reference to Article 370 has been deliberate and conscious. When he said that even if Indira Gandhi was to return, she too could not restore Article 370, was a well thought through remark that has drawn sharp criticism from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge has clarified that no one in the Congress had spoken in favour of Article 370 and this was a ploy of the BJP to indulge in false and inaccurate propaganda. In the midst of this battle, the BJP has been particularly silent over its comments on the role of the National Conference, something which is being seen as both tactical and strategic in view of how politics may play out in Kashmir subsequently.
At one point of time, the Congress was being viewed as the weak link in the MVA but things seem to be changing rapidly. The grand old party is pitted against the BJP in almost 50 constituencies in one-on-one fights and the general belief was that the saffron brigade with a more robust organization and money muscles would prevail.
This perception has undergone a change and campaigning by the Congress leaders led by Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, have made the contests very interesting. Thus, it is no longer possible to predict the possible outcome of these one-on-one fights. Significantly, unlike Haryana, where the RSS was in full strength to assist the BJP, the Sangh volunteers do not appear to be as enthusiastic so far as Maharashtra is concerned. Yes, it is true that the RSS headquarters are in Nagpur but even in the Vidarbha region, the contests are closer than what was earlier expected to be. In this confusing scenario, Pawar has managed to consolidate his position and thus is setting the narrative for the next government possibly.
Pawar is undependable but is also the master of the game. He knows how to humble the opponents with deceptive political googlies on a turning wicket. Between us.