Mahayuti Maneuvers: Can BJP Benefit From Ajit Pawars Exit And Return?

July 2023 saw a major shake-up in Maharashtra politics. Ajit Pawar broke ranks with his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and took the plunge by joining the ruling Mahayuti alliance, bringing a sizable group of MLAs, MPs, and office-bearers in tow. He landed the plum position of the deputy chief minister, securing the finance portfolio.

Many believed the Bharatiya Janata Party was pulling the strings, killing two birds with one stone: weakening Sharad Pawar, while beefing up Mahayuti’s numbers in the Vidhan Sabha. Yet, a year later, it seems the move may have blown up in the BJP's face. With the Lok Sabha debacle, the decision to rope in Ajit Pawar has been put under the microscope.

Jayant Patil, president of the rival Nationalist Congress Party faction, recently stirred the pot, suggesting that the BJP and Shiv Sena might ask Ajit Pawar to walk away from the alliance before the polls, only to bring him back into the fold post-election.

This could be a face-saving maneuver to patch up the BJP's image, which took a hit when they embraced Ajit Pawar, despite earlier branding the NCP corrupt. The alliance has also been cracking at the seams, with infighting among Shiv Sena and NCP leaders adding fuel to the fire.

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Patil's comment has given political pundits something to chew on—whether it would be wiser for Ajit Pawar to go his own way before possibly returning to Mahayuti after the results are in. Two clear perks stand out. For one, it would allow the BJP to mend fences with its voter base, which saw the Pawar alliance as a contradiction, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-NCP rhetoric. It would also smoothen seat-sharing talks, cutting the three-way tussle down to two.

Ajit Pawar, too, could benefit from splitting. Despite parting ways with Sharad Pawar, Ajit has kept his party's secular stance and hopes to woo Muslim voters. But his party seems like a square peg in a round hole in Mahayuti, where Hindutva takes center stage.

By parting ways, Ajit could also stop the hemorrhaging of leaders defecting to rival camps, as many worry their seats might be up for grabs by other Mahayuti partners.

Jitendra Dixit is an author and consulting editor of NDTV.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of NDTV Profit or its editorial team

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