The NCP or Nationalist Congress Party was founded in 1999 by Sharad Pawar after he quit the Indian National Congress (INC) along with Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar. While the NCP started as a national party with values of ‘Gandhian secularism’ and ‘progressive and modern progress’, its biggest electoral success has been in Maharashtra, Pawar’s home state. In 2023, the Election Commission withdrew the party’s status as a ‘national party’ as the NCP could no longer meet the criteria of such a designation.
As of 2024, the party is split into two factions — one led by founder Sharad Pawar and another by his nephew Ajit Pawar. The faction led by Ajit is in power in Maharashtra along with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde). This faction today is knonw as the Nationalist Congress Party, having been granted the original party name and symbol by the Supreme Court. The other faction is called the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar). Other important leaders include Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, and Rajesh Tope.
In the first place, these political parties have NO ideologies in reality ,. Which is the reason for the easy making and breaking of their so called “Alliances”. It is all only a matter of “Convenience” for grabbing POWER. ‘Ideologies’ are for the Birds.
If the analysis in this article is true, and there is no reason to doubt otherwise, then the question is: Why is Shiv Sena suddenly ditching their ideological fellow traveller, BJP? Why are they willing to entertain entering an ‘unholy’ and ‘opportunistic’ alliance with so-called secular parties like NCP and INC? The answer perhaps lie in Fear. SS is not dumb to read the writing on the wall; they fear that eventually they will be gobbled up by Amit Shah inspired BJP in their quest for ‘one nation, one party, hegemony. Today, SS has certain leverage to halt the BJP juggernaut but tomorrow they will become a footnote in history. One has to look at JD(U) in Bihar to know what is in store for smaller, regional parties who align with BJP – their identity will be erased and they will at best become an appendage to the big brother. SS knows this very well and therefore trying their best to keep from being swallowed up, even if that means entering into an alliance of convenience. One wouldn’t be surprised if other small regional parties like BJD begin to distance themselves from the BJP, in future.
1. Yesterday, there was an interesting news report. As per this news report, Shiv Sena, through its mouthpiece, “SAMANA”, has reiterated its stand on and also reconfirmed its belief in the Hindutva ideology. If this averment made by mouth piece of Shiv Sena is true, then the question is whether it is acceptable to leaders of NCP & Congress, two other parties who often proclaim secular agenda, form an alliance government with Shiv Sena. 2. In politics alliances are nothing new. Alliances have to be between like-minded parties and not between competitors and political opponents. But alliances of parties with opposite views are mere opportunistic alliances. Therefore, alliance of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena can never be an easy alliance, but a mere temporary arrangement to deny power to BJP. It needs to be reemphasized that all opportunistic alliances, like the one to be made between SS, NCP & Congress, will have a short life.
After reviewing conduct of Shivsena, decision for Government formation to be taken after winter session by Pawar & Sonia.