Ajit Pawar's NCP Claims Victory After Fierce Factional Battle

Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP secured a dominant victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, winning 41 out of 59 contested seats. The results solidify his claim as the legitimate leader of the NCP, as his faction triumphed over the one led by his uncle Sharad Pawar, especially in western Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) emerged victorious in the Maharashtra assembly elections, securing 41 of the 59 seats it contested. This victory settled the debate over which faction, Ajit’s or the one led by his uncle Sharad Pawar, commands greater electoral support.

Ajit Pawar successfully retained his stronghold in Baramati, a constituency he has represented since 1991, defeating his own nephew, Yugendra, who was fielded by Sharad Pawar’s faction. This victory was particularly significant for Ajit, following his wife’s unexpected loss in the Lok Sabha elections to Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule.

The results confirmed Ajit Pawar’s dominance, with his faction winning 28 out of the 34 direct contests with Sharad Pawar’s camp. While Sharad Pawar’s faction won only seven of the remaining 11 contested seats, the rest were split between the BJP and independents.

In July 2023, the NCP split after Ajit Pawar joined the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition, becoming Maharashtra's deputy chief minister. Sharad Pawar’s faction was left with fewer MLAs. The Election Commission, recognizing Ajit’s faction as the legitimate NCP, allotted the party’s name and symbol to him.

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Ajit’s faction performed strongly in western Maharashtra, winning key seats such as Ambegaon, Indapur, Hadapsar, Shirur, and Kagal. With this victory, Ajit Pawar’s camp solidified its claim as the “original” NCP, garnering support from voters who recognized his faction’s leadership.