Can Sharad Pawar get the post of Chief Minister of Maharashtra after 29 years? In view of the political equation being formed after the voting, this matter is being discussed from Mumbai to Delhi. It is being said that no matter what the figures are in the elections, the key to power will be in the hands of Pawar only.
Results for 288 seats in Maharashtra will be declared on November 23. 145 MLAs are required to form the government in the state.
Only 3 days time for government formation
Counting of votes will take place in Maharashtra on 23rd November and the tenure of the Assembly is ending on 26th November. If the claim for government formation is not presented within 3 days, President’s rule may be imposed in the state.
In case of imposition of President’s rule, the ball will be in the Centre’s court. It is being said that to avoid a similar situation, the parties will try to form the government as soon as possible. Pawar can take advantage of this.
Due to the fear of President’s rule being imposed in 2019, Pawar kept many important departments like Finance, Home in the Mahavikas Aghadi government.
Pawar family stakes claim on about 70 seats
In all the exit polls regarding Maharashtra, both Pawars are estimated to get around 70 seats. There is a contest between the candidates of Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar on about 42 seats of the Assembly.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sharad Pawar got lead on 38 assembly seats and Ajit Pawar got lead on 6 seats. There is also scope for reversal of both.
Ajit Pawar has openly opposed the issues through which BJP was trying to polarize the elections. Because of this, Junior Pawar has been the target of BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis.
Because of this power, it is being said that this time the CM’s chair can go to the Pawar family.
Neither friend nor enemy of anyone formula
Sharad Pawar neither has much friendship nor enmity with anyone in Maharashtra politics. Pawar, who supported BJP in 2014, sided with Uddhav in 2019. His old associate and Ajit faction candidate Nawab Malik had recently claimed that Sharad Pawar may go either way.
Interestingly, this time neither Mahavikas Aghadi nor Mahayuti has declared the CM face. In such a situation, there is space left for the post of CM on both sides.
What is going on in Pawar’s mind?
84 year old Sharad Pawar had put in all his strength in this election. He addressed about 55 rallies in the entire election. In every rally, Pawar kept talking only about taking Maharashtra in a new direction.
Senior Pawar had also made a big comment about Jayant Patil in a rally in Islampur. Sharad Pawar had said in this rally that Jayant now has to take the responsibility of the entire state, so be prepared from now on.
After this statement of senior Pawar, questions are being raised in the political circles of Maharashtra that what is going on in his mind?
Did not get chair after 1995
After losing the 1995 assembly elections, Sharad Pawar never got the post of Chief Minister. After this, he played the role of kingmaker about 4 times in Maharashtra politics, but due to political equations, he remained away from the CM’s chair.
Chhagan Bhujbal and Ajit Pawar from Pawar’s party have definitely been Deputy Chief Ministers in many governments. Ajit still holds the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
Sharad at 89, Ajit fighting at 60
Sharad Pawar is contesting elections on 89 assembly seats under the banner of Mahavikas Aghadi. Sharad is competing with the candidates of Ajit group on 42 seats. On the remaining 47 seats, Sharad’s candidates are in direct competition with Shiv Sena (Shinde) and BJP candidates.
Ajit Pawar is contesting on about 60 seats in this election. Apart from Sharad, Ajit group is competing with Congress on most of the seats.