Sharad Pawar’s legwork at the age of 78 seems to have paid off

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Sharad Pawar’s legwork at the age of 78 seems to have paid off
  • As of 2:11 pm, NCP is leading in 55 seats and Congress is leading in 37.
  • Pawar has campaigned extensively braving weather and rains during the election.
  • He might have a say in the next government as BJP and Sena continue to squabble.
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It is not all over for Sharad Pawar and his party Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The incumbent coalition between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena may have ignored this septuagenarian but Pawar seems set for a second innings for his party—even if it in the opposition.

As of 2:11 pm, NCP is leading in 55 seats and Congress is leading in 37, which is much higher than that was predicted by exit polls. If the two together have over a 100 seats, they will be a significant opposition even if BJP-Sena win the election.

Also read: BJP’s Parag Shah, the richest candidate in Maharashtra, is leading with more than half the vote share in Ghatkopar East

Most polls said that BJP and Sena could finish with over 200 seats, but as of now, the leads are a bit short of that.

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BJP and Shiv Sena--the frenemies

While BJP and allies are in a clear lead, cracks have started to appear in their already fragile bond. The state machinery of BJP which was riding high on the Lok Sabha mandate had all but done away with their five-year old partner.

After multiple fights over seat sharing, both the parties decided to field candidates in sensitive areas like Konkan⁠— in regions like Ratnagiri and Raigad⁠— calling it a ‘friendly fight’.

But the fight was anything but friendly. BJP openly defied Sena when they fielded Narayan Rane who has been the party’s arch rival for years, as their candidate to put their foot into the Sena strongholds. Now, if Sena continues its lead, they will have better bargaining power. They are not shy of saying it out even before the final tally, and have staked a 50% claim in government formation.

Pawar’s proximity to Thackeray can waver angry Sainiks

As this melee continues, Pawar may play a key role. Not only does he have enough seats to have a say in the next government, he was also a friend to Bal Thackeray, the Sena founder.

There is an emotional connect as the late Thackeray has once refused to field a Sena candidate in a constituency where Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule was making a debut. It is one of those rare friendships which stood the test of time and politics.
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Few have ever gained from ignoring an old man agile enough to campaign across the state in rains. He put up a brave front even as he is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and many of his party members quit right before elections.

Pawar is one of those consummate politicians who has friends across the political spectrum including some high-profile ones in the BJP. So, the power of the opposition led by Pawar will depend on how much he decides to flex his muscle.

See Also:
Maharashtra State Elections winner and leading candidate list 2019
The final result of Haryana state election 2019
Haryana State Election result and Winner list
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