Maharashtra 'game of thrones' never seizes to surprise. Just when the state had normalised the Eknath Shinde's coup on Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 to become the Chief Minister, on Saturday, Ajit Pawar walked up to his doors by ditching his uncle and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. Several NCP MLAs along with Ajit Pawar lent their support to the Eknath Shinde-led BJP government in Maharashtra which led a vertical split in the NCP to become the deputy chief minister.
Sharad Pawar was caught unaware twice by his nephew's move. In 2019, Ajit Pawar had taken oath as deputy CM when Fadnavis was CM. However, Ajit had then returned to NCP days later.
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Sharad Pawar on May 5 announced his surprise decision to step down as NCP president. According to pundits, it was understood that the NCP veteran leader had taken this drastic step by sensing a coup by his nephew Ajit Pawar. The move by the 82-year-old Maratha strongman came as a googly for Ajit Pawar. However, this was lull before the storm. Soon after that Supriya Sule and Praful Patel were made the working presidents of NCP - a step which instigated Ajit Pawar to jump ships.
However, Ajit Pawar's move against uncle Sharad Pawar only shows that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar with his wife and party leaders during a book launch event, in Mumbai
Sharad Pawar, who himself became the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the age of 38 in 1978, had revolted against his then party Congress (Urs) and mentor YB Chavan and got the big chair with the help of Janata Party when the Congress (S) won 69 seats as against 65 of Congress (I) and the Janta Party had won 99 seats, resulting in a hung assembly. His first term lasted only till 1980. Pawar who has seen many ups and downs in politics got stumped by his nephew not once but twice. Once in May and then again in July.
Born in Pune's Baramati in 1940, Sharad Pawar had again walked out of the Congress in 1999 and formed his own party - Nationalist Congress Party - over the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin.
