Nationalist Congress Get together (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday attributed the Mahayuti alliance’s sweeping victory within the Maharashtra meeting elections to components just like the Ladki Bahin scheme, vital voter turnout amongst ladies, and non secular polarisation.
NCP President Sharad Pawar with social gathering chief Balasaheb Patil throughout a celebration employees assembly, in Karad, Maharashtra, Sunday. (PTI)
Talking at Karad in Satara district, the veteran chief acknowledged that the outcomes—declared on Saturday—had been removed from what he had anticipated. Pawar’s NCP (SP) gained 10 of the 87 seats it contested, garnering round 11 per cent votes throughout the state.
Marking his first response for the reason that meeting ballot consequence, Pawar assured that efforts might be made to revitalise NCP (SP) after its extreme electoral defeat.
Dismissing the query about his retirement from energetic politics, Pawar stated that such selections can be taken collectively together with his social gathering colleagues.
Although Sharad Pawar recognised the efficiency of NCP faction headed by nephew Ajit Pawar within the 2024 state polls, he stated,
“Everyone knows who founded the NCP.” Ajit’s NCP secured 41 seats within the 288-member state meeting.
Pawar stated, “The Ladki Bahin scheme, combined with religious polarisation due to slogans by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, played a role. Women voting in large numbers could have been a significant factor in the result. We will analyse the reasons behind our setback and take corrective measures.”
Throughout the campaigns in Maharashtra, Adityanath stated his favorite slogan “batenge to katenge, ek rahenge to nek rahenge”, a name for unity as Hindus.
Pawar senior, nonetheless, stated he should get extra knowledge when requested if Maratha protest led to counter polarisation amongst OBCs, ultimately serving to Mahayuti to return again to energy.
Responding to questions in regards to the credibility of digital voting machines (EVMs) following Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut’s remarks, Pawar stated he would remark solely after inspecting official knowledge. Raut had earlier raised questions in regards to the EVMs after his social gathering suffered drubbing with solely 20 seats.
Reflecting on the election outcomes, Pawar referred to as the result unprecedented in his lengthy political profession. The Mahayuti coalition—comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawa’s NCP—secured a dominant 230 seats, with the BJP claiming 132, Sena 57, and NCP 41. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, in the meantime, managed simply 46 seats regardless of earlier successes within the Lok Sabha polls.
The MVA alliance consists of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
“The MVA worked hard during the campaign, and the public’s response was encouraging. However, the results didn’t match our expectations,” Pawar stated. He emphasised that the coalition would want to double down on its efforts to regain misplaced floor.
When requested if he was shaken by the outcomes, Pawar stated, “The results were declared yesterday. Today, I am here in Karad. Those who feel demoralised would have stayed home. I am not one of them.”
Sharad Pawar’s remarks underline his resolve to rebuild his faction of the NCP regardless of the numerous electoral setback. With Mahayuti firmly in charge of the state, the street forward for the opposition stays difficult.
‘Ajit, Yugendra cannot be compared’
On the Baramati ballot consequence, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar stated, “Ajit and Yugendra cannot be compared. We were aware of this fact from the beginning.”
Within the election, Ajit (NCP) defeated his nephew Yugendra of NCP (SP) by over 1 lakh vote margin.
Pawar senior stated fielding Yugendra in opposition to Ajit on the house turf of Baramati wasn’t a mistaken resolution as somebody needed to contest the elections.