Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024: Nephew Vs Uncle – Pawar's NCP Factions Face Off In 36 Key Seats

As Maharashtra prepares for the upcoming assembly elections, a noteworthy rivalry has emerged as Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faces off against Sharad Pawar's faction, NCP (Sharad Pawar), in 36 of the 288 constituencies. This direct contest between uncle and nephew will be a test of public support in a state where both leaders once stood united.

Most of these contested seats are located in Western Maharashtra's sugar belt, with 15 constituencies set to host clashes between the two factions. North Maharashtra, known as the state's food and fruit production region, will see similar showdowns in seven seats.

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One of the most anticipated battles is in Baramati, a traditional stronghold of the Pawar family. Here, Ajit Pawar will confront his nephew, Yugendra Pawar, who has been mentored by his granduncle Sharad Pawar and aunt, Supriya Sule, a four-time Member of Parliament for Baramati. Previously, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, contested against Supriya Sule but was defeated in a challenging race.

The political landscape has significantly changed since the June-July 2023 split within the Nationalist Congress Party. Ajit Pawar, now leading the original NCP with its iconic clock symbol, departed from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (I.N.D.I.A. alliance) to join the ruling Maha Yuti (NDA) as Deputy Chief Minister. Sharad Pawar's faction, now called NCP (Sharad Pawar), operates under the man-blowing-tutari symbol.

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Across the state, Western Maharashtra is the primary battleground, with 15 constituencies witnessing NCP vs NCP (SP) contests. The seats include Baramati, Ambegaon, Indapur, Kagal, and Hadapsar, among others. North Maharashtra has seven seats in contention, such as Ahmednagar City and Yeola. In Marathwada, five seats, including Basmath and Parli, are set for similar clashes, while Vidarbha has four seats, and Konkan has two. Additionally, Mumbai's Anushakti Nagar and two seats in the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) - Mumbra-Kalwa and Shahpur - will see battles between the factions.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar's NCP managed to secure one of the four seats it contested, while Sharad Pawar's faction won eight of the ten seats it contested. Since its founding in 1999 by Sharad Pawar, PA Sangma, and Tariq Anwar, the NCP has held significant influence in Western Maharashtra, a region likely to be a crucial factor in the 2024 assembly polls.