Sharad Pawar, one of the most enduring and influential figures in Indian politics, is considering retiring from active politics after his Rajya Sabha term ends in 2026. The 83-year-old leader has been a dominant force in Maharashtra and national politics for decades, but his party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has suffered one of its most significant setbacks in recent elections, leaving many questioning the future of both Pawar and the party.
In what is being viewed as a harsh blow to his long and illustrious political career, the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP has only managed to secure 13 of the 288 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. This marks an alarming strike rate of just 14.94%, which happens to be the worst performance for the veteran leader in his entire political journey. It is a far cry from the party’s success in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections when the undivided NCP had secured 54 seats, outstripping its ally Congress, which won 44 seats.
The current defeat is even more painful when viewed in contrast to the NCP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections just six months ago, where the party recorded an impressive 80% strike rate, securing a decisive victory and emerging as the dominant faction under Sharad Pawar’s leadership. This sharp decline in fortunes in the Assembly elections has added a layer of ignominy to the veteran politician’s career.
What makes this setback even more significant is the fact that the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, which split from Sharad Pawar’s group last year, has decisively outperformed the senior leader’s faction. The Ajit Pawar group is currently ahead in 39 seats, a stark contrast to Sharad Pawar’s 13. This marks the first electoral contest between the two factions after the split, and Ajit Pawar’s group appears poised to emerge victorious, having managed to secure a commanding lead in the state.
The split between the Pawar cousins has been one of the most dramatic political developments in recent times. While Sharad Pawar’s group won the Lok Sabha elections earlier in the year, laying claim to the NCP’s original name and symbol, it is Ajit Pawar’s faction that now appears to be securing the upper hand in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The results from this bitter family feud will likely have long-lasting ramifications on the future of the NCP.
For Sharad Pawar, this defeat represents not just a personal and political setback but also a potential existential crisis for his faction. The 13 seats currently held by his group are the lowest number of Assembly seats for any major political party in Maharashtra, including the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. The latter, too, has been reeling from internal divisions following the rebellion by Eknath Shinde in 2022, but even the Shiv Sena’s fortunes appear to have fared better in this election compared to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
The current electoral result is a far cry from the political strength that Sharad Pawar once enjoyed. The NCP’s diminishing presence in the Maharashtra Assembly, combined with the internal fissures and the rise of Ajit Pawar’s faction, have raised serious questions about the future of the party and its leadership.
Despite the loss, Sharad Pawar’s legacy remains undeniable. Known for his political acumen and organizational skills, Pawar has led the NCP through some of the most turbulent political times in the state. His stature in national politics, particularly within the Congress-led UPA and his role as a kingmaker in coalition governments, has cemented his place as one of the most formidable figures in Indian politics. However, as he looks towards the end of his career, the current defeat in Maharashtra serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that come with political longevity.
The question now is whether Sharad Pawar can rebuild his party and revive the NCP’s fortunes before his planned retirement in 2026, or if this setback will mark the end of an era for both him and his party. While the next few years will be crucial in shaping the future of the NCP, the once-mighty party now faces an uncertain path ahead, as Pawar’s political legacy hangs in the balance.
