Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray could change stand on rebel MLAs

Mumbai: In a surprising turn of events, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, two prominent leaders in Maharashtra's political landscape, appear to be reconsidering their stance on allowing defected MLAs to return to their respective factions.

Pawar, speaking to ABP Majha, a Marathi news channel, on Monday, indicated a softening of his previously rigid position. "There is no ban on entry of all of them," he said, referring to MLAs who had joined his nephew Ajit Pawar's faction. This marks a significant departure from his earlier declaration that those who had "betrayed" him would never be welcomed back.

The remarks come amidst speculation that some MLAs from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are eager to return to the Thackeray and Pawar factions, respectively.

The recent Lok Sabha elections saw the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Pawar-led NCP (SP), secure 30 out of 48 seats. The ruling alliance, Mahayuti, managed to win only 17 seats. Notably, the Pawar faction claimed victory in 8 seats, including five in the Nashik-Pune-Kolhapur belt, a traditional NCP stronghold. In contrast, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP failed to secure any seats in this region, causing unease among party MLAs.

A senior NCP (SP) leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that Pawar's change of heart may be influenced by the Lok Sabha results. "Though the party did well in Lok Sabha elections, it is important to win power in the state in the coming assembly elections and ensure that Ajit-led faction is routed in state," the leader said. "As such, Pawar saheb is willing to forgive some MLAs who went with Ajitdada out of compulsion but refrained from criticising us."

Meanwhile, Thackeray also appears to be softening his stance, despite having previously labelled defectors as "traitors" and "backstabbers". Sources within Shiv Sena (UBT) suggest that three MLAs have already reached out to a close aide of Thackeray, expressing their desire to return.

"There have been discussions, but Uddhav Thackeray has not given his nod yet. The party leadership is considering the request, but no decision has been taken yet," a party insider revealed.

These developments come against the backdrop of a complex political landscape in Maharashtra. In June 2023, 40 out of 53 NCP MLAs joined Ajit Pawar in a rebellion against his uncle, aligning with the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government. A year earlier, Shinde and his MLAs had rebelled against Thackeray, joining forces with the BJP to form a new government.

As Maharashtra prepares for upcoming assembly elections, these potential realignments could significantly alter the state's political dynamics. The coming weeks are likely to reveal whether Pawar and Thackeray will indeed open their doors to former allies, potentially reshaping the balance of power in one of India's most politically significant states.