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The 2023 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) split occurred on 2 July 2023, when Ajit Pawar and several senior party leaders broke away from the NCP—led by his uncle Sharad Pawar—and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra.[1] Ajit Pawar took the oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and eight other NCP leaders were inducted as ministers.[2] This led to a formal split within the party, resulting in two factions: one led by Sharad Pawar and the other by Ajit Pawar.
| Part of Politics of Maharashtra | |
| Date | 2 July 2023 – 7 February 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Outcome |
Numbers by faction: 15 / 56 (27%)
40 / 56 (71%)
7 / 9 (78%)
2 / 9 (22%) |
| Preceded by | 2022 Shiv Sena split |
The split triggered a legal dispute over the party’s name and election symbol. On 6 February 2024, the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawar‑led faction as the official NCP and allotted it the party’s name and symbol.[3] The faction led by Sharad Pawar was subsequently referred to as the Sharad Pawar faction.
On 5 March 2024, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared Ajit Pawar’s group the “real” NCP, citing its majority in the legislature.[4]
Reasons behind the split
editAjit Pawar supported allying with the NCP’s traditional opponent, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a move that Sharad Pawar publicly opposed. The NCP is generally described as centrist, secular, and inclusive, emphasizing social justice, federalism, and the welfare of farmers and marginalized communities.[5] By contrast, the BJP is generally described as right‑leaning, emphasizing nationalism, Hindu cultural values, and economic liberalization.[6] Ajit Pawar claimed that Sharad Pawar had previously considered aligning with the BJP and that many NCP leaders also supported an alliance with the ruling party in Maharashtra. This ideological conflict[7][8] prompted Ajit Pawar and his supporters to break away from the party.[9]
The split was driven by ideological differences, political ambitions, and strategic disagreements. Ajit Pawar, who led the breakaway faction, cited the need for a different political alliance as the primary reason. Supriya Sule, a senior leader in the Sharad Pawar‑led faction, stated that the split stemmed from ideological differences within the party and was unrelated to personal disputes within the Pawar family.[10]
Ajit Pawar’s ambition to secure a higher political position also played a role in the split. Despite being a prominent leader within the NCP, he had long aspired to become Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a position he had been unable to attain under alliances with parties such as the Congress and Shiv Sena.[11] Some observers contend that Ajit Pawar believed Sharad Pawar was bringing his daughter to the forefront, limiting his own prospects in the party. By aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar saw an opportunity to expand his political influence and secure a significant role in the state government.[12]
Ajit Pawar also stated that Sharad Pawar had sent him to negotiate an alliance with the BJP on multiple occasions, only to withdraw later, placing him in a difficult position. He said that, in private, Sharad Pawar was open to allying with the BJP but publicly opposed it, which he argued created uncertainty within the party. Ajit Pawar took the oath as Deputy Chief Minister with the BJP in November 2019 but resigned soon after Sharad Pawar changed his stance.[13][14]
Internal dissent within the NCP was further fueled by differing views on the party’s future direction and alliances. While Sharad Pawar and his allies preferred to maintain the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) arrangement, Ajit Pawar and his supporters argued that a new alignment with the BJP would better serve their political goals and the party’s influence in Maharashtra.[11]
Allegations of Central Agency pressure
editSome political observers and opposition leaders have alleged that investigations by central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against NCP leaders contributed to the party’s 2023 split. They claim that ongoing probes may have influenced some NCP leaders to join the ruling alliance. For example, senior NCP leaders including Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Hasan Mushrif were under ED investigation for various cases when they switched sides.[15] NCP leader Sharad Pawar suggested that some leaders joined the government to avoid investigations.[16] Leaders who switched sides have denied these allegations, stating that their decisions were based on developmental issues rather than investigative pressure.[17]
- ^ Ajit Pawar joins Shinde-Fadnavis government, takes oath as Deputy CM, The Indian Express, 2 July 2023.
- ^ NCP Split: Ajit Pawar Joins Maharashtra Government As Deputy Chief Minister, NDTV, 2 July 2023.
- ^ EC recognises Ajit Pawar faction as real NCP, allots party symbol, Hindustan Times, 6 February 2024.
- ^ Rahul Narwekar declares Ajit Pawar group as real NCP, The Economic Times, 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)". Britannica. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Our Philosophy". Bharatiya Janata Party. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Sharad Pawar Was Ready To Join Hands With BJP Several Times, Nephew Ajit Opens All Cards". ABP News. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "'Blatant lie,' says NCP (SP) after Praful Patel's statement that Sharad Pawar was 50% ready to join hands with BJP". The Economic Times. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Maharashtra Shake‑Up Was A Long Time In The Making". NDTV. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "ECI rules Ajit Pawar faction is the real NCP". The Hindu. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Ajit 'Dada': 3 Reasons Why He's Indispensable for Sharad Pawar". The Quint. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ajit faction 'real NCP': Maharashtra Speaker dismisses pleas for disqualification". The Indian Express. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Praful Patel claims Sharad Pawar 'was 50% ready' to join hands with BJP in 2023". Hindustan Times. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "'NCP had offered support to BJP in 2014, Sharad Pawar called it a strategy to keep Shiv Sena away,' claims Ajit Pawar". Business Today. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Maharashtra Politics: ED Investigating Prominent NCP Leaders Who Switched Sides With Ajit Pawar". Free Press Journal. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Some NCP leaders joined hands with BJP as agencies threatened them, says Sharad Pawar". The Times of India. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "Ajit Pawar says corruption allegations were to defame him, Sule reminds BJP and its leaders levelled them". The Indian Express. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
Timeline
edit- 3 April 2023: Two meetings took place:
- Sharad Pawar convened a meeting of senior NCP leaders to discuss election strategy.[1]
- Ajit Pawar held a separate meeting with other leaders to discuss concerns about pressure from central agencies and the party’s future leadership.[1]
- Mid-May 2023: Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel began discussions with the BJP high command, facilitated by Devendra Fadnavis.[1]
- 30 June 2023: A final meeting of NCP leaders who intended to defect finalized the plan to join the Shinde–Fadnavis government.[1]
- 2 July 2023: Ajit Pawar, along with eight other NCP leaders, was sworn in as a minister in the Eknath Shinde–led Maharashtra government, marking the official split in the party.[2]
- 6 February 2024: The Election Commission awarded the party name and symbol to the faction headed by Ajit Pawar.[3][4]
- 15 February 2024: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared the Ajit Pawar faction the "real" NCP, citing its legislative majority.[5][6]
Split
editBefore Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, on 5 June 2023, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and announced that the cabinet would be expanded.[7] Praful Patel attended an opposition meeting in Patna with Supriya Sule instead of Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle and the national president of the NCP.[8]
On 2 July 2023, Ajit Pawar went to Raj Bhavan in Mumbai and took the oath as Deputy Chief Minister, along with NCP leaders including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse-Patil, Dhananjay Munde, Hasan Mushrif, Dharamrao Aatram, Aditi Tatkare, and Sanjay Bansode. All seven NCP MLAs from Nagaland supported Ajit Pawar.[citation needed]
On 6 February 2024, Ajit Pawar’s faction was officially recognised as the real NCP by the Election Commission, granting his faction the party’s poll symbol and name. The Election Commission directed Sharad Pawar’s camp to adopt a new name for the upcoming 2024 general elections.[9]
| Leaders | MLA | Lok Sabha MPs | MLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharad Pawar | 15 | 4 | 3 |
| Ajit Pawar | 40 | 1 | 9 |
| Total number of members of NCP before split | 55 | 5 | 11 |
MLAs of the NCP
editLok Sabha MPs of the NCP
edit| Sr No. | Ajit Pawar | Sr No. | Sharad Pawar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunil Dattatray Tatkare | 1 | Supriya Sule |
| 2 | Amol Kolhe | ||
| 3 | Shriniwas Patil | ||
| 4 | Mohammed Faizal Padippura | ||
Rajya Sabha MPs of the NCP
edit| Sr No. | Ajit Pawar | Sr No. | Sharad Pawar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Praful Patel | 1 | Sharad Pawar |
| 2 | Fouzia Khan | ||
| 3 | Vandana Chavan | ||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "How Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party fell apart in 3 months". India Today. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Why Is Sharad Pawar Consistently Claiming There Is No Split in the NCP?". The Wire. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Election Commission Says Ajit Pawar Faction of the NCP is the 'Real' One, Gives It Party Symbol". The Wire. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Sharad Pawar was '50% ready' to join hands with BJP last year: Praful Patel". India Today. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ Deshpande, Abhinay (15 February 2024). "Ajit Pawar's faction is the real NCP: Maharashtra Speaker". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ajit faction 'real NCP': Maharashtra Speaker dismisses pleas for disqualification". The Indian Express. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "CM Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis meet Amit Shah; Konkan water issue, Marathwada grid project discussed". Indian Express. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Opposition meeting is being held in Nitish Kumar's House in Patna". Zee News. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Sharad Pawar Loses EC Battle As Ajit-led Faction Recognised As Real NCP". News18 India. Retrieved 7 February 2024.