The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20, marking a high-stakes contest within the fractured Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar. Since the NCP’s split in 2022, each faction has sought to establish itself as the “real NCP” through aggressive election strategies. The Election Commission of India officially recognized Ajit Pawar’s faction as the NCP’s primary wing, providing his group the party’s symbol and name—a decision that further deepened the rift between uncle and nephew.
Ajit Pawar, now Deputy Chief Minister and part of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, is fielding 35 of the 51 seats allotted to his faction within this coalition. Sharad Pawar’s faction, aligned with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), will contest 87 seats under the coalition’s umbrella, alongside allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress. In Mumbai alone, the MVA settled on a seat-sharing deal granting Congress 14 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 18, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) two seats.
Also Read: BJP State Chief asks candidates to withdraw Nomination from upcoming Elections
Direct face-offs between the NCP factions will occur in 36 seats, including high-profile battles across the state. Notably, Sharad Pawar has fielded his grand-nephew, Yugendra Pawar, against Ajit Pawar’s faction in Baramati. Similarly, Pawar loyalists like Devdutt Nikam in Ambegaon and Rajesaheb Deshmukh in Parli are pitted against former colleagues now aligned with Ajit Pawar.
As both camps vie for public support, the electorate in Maharashtra faces a tough choice, potentially reshaping the state’s political landscape. Results are expected by November 23, offering insights into the NCP’s future direction amid intense internal competition.
