The 2023 Nationalist Congress Party split occurred on 2 July 2023, when Ajit Pawar, along with several other party leaders, broke away from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena alliance government in Maharashtra.[1] Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, along with eight other NCP leaders who took oath as ministers.[2] This led to a vertical split in the party, with two factions emerging: one led by Sharad Pawar and the other by Ajit Pawar.[1] The split resulted in a legal battle over the party's name and symbol. On 6 February 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) awarded the party name and symbol to the faction headed by Ajit Pawar. The faction led by Sharad Pawar was subsequently recognized as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).[3] On 5 March 2024, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declared the Ajit Pawar faction as the "real" NCP, citing its legislative majority.[4]
Reasons behind the split
Ajit Pawar was in favor of forming an alliance with the traditionally opposite party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, Sharad Pawar publicly opposed this idea. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and BJP have different ideologies. The NCP allegedly follows a centrist, secular, and inclusive political approach, focusing on social justice, federalism, and the welfare of farmers and weaker sections of society.[5] On the other hand, the BJP adheres to a right-wing ideology that emphasizes nationalism, Hindu cultural values, and economic liberalization.[6] Ajit Pawar mentioned that Sharad Pawar had been ready to align with the BJP multiple times in the past, and a majority of NCP leaders also wished to form an alliance with the BJP, which is the ruling party in the state of Maharashtra. This ideological shift caused significant internal conflict within the NCP, as many members were reluctant to compromise their core values for political gain.[7][8]
Sharad Pawar is the supreme leader and his word is final in the NCP, but Ajit had a different vision for the party, which Sharad Pawar kept objecting to. This prompted Ajit Pawar to form a rebellion with others and split the party.[9]
The split was also driven by ideological differences, political ambitions, and strategic disagreements. Ajit Pawar, who led the breakaway faction, cited the need for a different political alliance as a primary reason for the split. Supriya Sule, a senior leader in the Sharad Pawar-led faction, emphasized that the split was due to ideological differences within the party and had nothing to do with personal disputes within the Pawar family.[3]
Ajit Pawar's ambitions to secure a higher political position also played a crucial role in the split. Despite being a prominent leader within the NCP, Ajit Pawar had long harbored aspirations to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a position he had been unable to attain due to the NCP's alliances with other parties like the Congress and Shiv Sena.[10] By aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar saw an opportunity to enhance his political influence and secure a significant role in the state government.[4]
Ajit Pawar also mentioned that Sharad Pawar had sent him to form an alliance with the BJP on multiple occasions, only to back off later, which put him in a difficult position. Ajit Pawar felt that this inconsistent approach was detrimental to his political career and the party's stability. He also stated that, in private, Sharad Pawar was open to forming an alliance with the BJP, but publicly opposed it, causing further confusion and instability within the party. Ajit Pawar even took oath as Deputy Chief Minister with the BJP in November 2019, but had to resign quickly as Sharad Pawar changed his stance.[11][12]
The internal dissent within the NCP was further fueled by differing views on the party's future direction and alliances. While Sharad Pawar and his loyalists preferred to maintain the existing alliances within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Ajit Pawar and his supporters believed that a new political alignment with the BJP would be more beneficial for their political careers and the party's influence in Maharashtra.[10]
Allegations of central agency pressure
Some political observers and opposition leaders have alleged that investigations by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against NCP leaders played a role in the party's split in 2023. They claim that the prospect of ongoing probes may have influenced certain NCP leaders to join the ruling alliance. For instance, senior NCP leaders such as Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel, and Hasan Mushrif were under ED investigation for various cases when they switched sides.[13] NCP supremo Sharad Pawar himself suggested that some leaders joined the government to avoid facing investigations.[14] However, the leaders who switched sides have denied these allegations, stating that their decision was based on developmental issues and not influenced by any investigations.[15]
Timeline
3 April 2023: Two significant meetings take place:
Sharad Pawar calls a meeting with senior NCP leaders to discuss election strategies.
Ajit Pawar holds a separate meeting with other leaders, discussing concerns about pressure from central agencies and the party's future leadership.[1]
30 June 2023: A final meeting of rebel NCP leaders takes place, finalizing the plan to join the Shinde-Fadnavis government.[1]
2 July 2023: Ajit Pawar, along with eight other NCP leaders, is sworn in as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, marking the official split in the party.[16]
15 February 2024: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar declares the Ajit Pawar faction as the "real" NCP, citing its legislative majority.[18][4]
