Sharad Pawar's Thoughts To Join BJP

Praful Patel, leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) revealed that Sharad Pawar was considering joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when his nephew Ajit Pawar became the deputy chief minister in Maharashtra's government under Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis. 

Patel stated that after Ajit and other ministers took oath in July 2023, they met Sharad Pawar and asked him to join them. He said that Sharad Pawar hesitated as he often does at the last moment. 

Last year, Sharad Pawar had stated firmly that he would never align with the BJP affirming the NCP's commitment to fighting them in elections.

In 2019, Ajit Pawar had attempted to split the party but was unsuccessful, as Sharad Pawar managed to keep the party united. 

But in 2023, Ajit Pawar and eight others rebelled again by joining the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Praful Patel, once close to Sharad Pawar, is now aligned with the Ajit faction. 

Patel has suggested that Sharad Pawar's hesitance has affected his political decisions including missing out on the opportunity to become Prime Minister way back in 1996.

“In 1996, if Pawar saheb had agreed to the suggestions of HD Devegowda, then he could have been the PM. Sharad Pawar could have been PM in 1996 itself if he was not hesitant,” Patel told. 

Thus Patel concluded that Sharad Pawar missed the boat many times due to his wrong decisions at right time.