Tumultuous quarter century for NCP and NCP (SP)

The NCP was founded on June 10, 1999 after Sharad Pawar, a former leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, along with former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma and Tariq Anwar, raised the issue of foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi, leading to their expulsion.

The quarter century of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), founded by Sharad Pawar, has been tumultuous because of a split in the party. However, there are interesting days ahead in the run up to Maharashtra’s local bodies elections - the first political battle on ground after the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls. 

The NCP was founded on June 10, 1999 after Pawar, a former leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha,  along with former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma and Tariq Anwar, raised the issue of foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi, leading to their expulsion. 

While Sangma is no more, Anwar is back in Congress. 

For Saheb, as the 84-year-old Pawar is popularly known, it is going to be a tough call as he is one of the pillars of the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc. 

The big question is whether there is a merger between the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) controlled by Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule. 

Within months after its formation, the NCP came to power and joined hands with the Congress. 

From 1999-2014, the Congress-NCP Democratic Front ruled Maharashtra; from 2004-2014, it was part of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre with Pawar being the Agriculture Minister for 10 years in the dispensation led by late Dr Manmohan Singh.

Things started changing from 2014 when the Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power at the Centre. 

“In the 2014, the Congress-NCP alliance as well as the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance broke before the Assembly polls. However, when BJP fell short of numbers, Pawar extended outside support to the BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis, however, pulled out when (then) Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray decided to be part of the government. After that Pawar had a series of meetings with the BJP leadership, however, did not compromise on his principles of secularism and liberty,” political observers said, adding that this agitated his nephew Ajit Pawar and leaders like Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal. 

In 2019, when the Shiv Sena alliance broke with BJP after the Assembly results, Pawar carved the marquee anti-BJP alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi with Thackeray in the fold of Congress-NCP.

“While this was happening, Ajit Pawar walked out and along with Fadnavis as CM formed the government. However, within a couple of days the government collapsed,” the observers said, adding that the stand of Pawar left Modi and his aide and Union Home Minister rattled. 

Thackeray became the head of the MVA dispensation after Pawar’s request -- further rattling the Modi-Shah duo.

What followed is history -- in June-July 2022, there was rebellion in Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde, who toppled the MVA and installed the MahaYuti with Fadnavis as his deputy. A year later in June-July 2023, Ajit Pawar joined the NDA as Shinde’s deputy -- just when the NCP turned 24.

Subsequently, Ajit Pawar claimed the NCP party and iconic clock symbol while Pawar had to settle as NCP (SP) and man-blowing-tutari symbol. 

“The 25 years of NCP in 2024 was interesting.  In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the NCP (SP) performed well and had the best strike rate winning 8 of the 10 seats while NCP got just one seat.

In the Assembly, however, there was a reversal with NCP winning 41 seats and NCP just 10,” senior leaders of the two factions said, adding that a large section of NCP (SP) ranks and files are keen on a merger. 

Both NCP and NCP (SP) has chosen Pune for the foundation day festivities while Ajit Pawar will address party colleagues at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Balewadi. Sharad Pawar will address his supporters at the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Shivajinagar. 

“On this day, some direction is expected for the party colleagues,” said a senior leader from Baramati, the bastion of the Pawar family, who is close to both the uncle and the nephew. 

"The 26th year could be full of surprises," said a Pawar family aide from Baramati.