(Dr Pentapati Pullarao)
For a month, India has been watching NCP’s Sharad Pawar’s moves to become the Prime minister candidate of the non-BJP Opposition.
After the 5-state election results in May 2021, there was a feeling that though the BJP won 2 states, it did not do as well as expected and that the poor handling of the second wave Corona had created a possibility for the Opposition to defeat Narendra Modi in 2024.
Obviously, Rahul Gandhi should have benefitted. But the dismal failure of the Congress in Kerala, Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry has created a crisis for the Gandhis, who look very weak and pushed them from the race.
So Sharad Pawar sensed an opportunity to take over the leadership of the non-BJP political parties. But Sharad Pawar knows that he should not anger the Congress and yet at the same time, he must start leading.
So today, on June 22, 2021, Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of prominent persons and others. Pawar did not invite political parties as that would mean he has pushed aside the Congress Party. So we have a meeting under Sharad Pawar to ‘ discuss” the unity of opposition parties. But the point has been made by Sharad Pawar that he is ready to lead the anti- BJP front.
Sharad Pawar first became an MLA in 1967. Sharad Pawar has many of the qualities of Maratha rulers. The Marathas were cunning, good warriors and never afraid o take risks and be ready to suffer for their failures. The Marathas were great rulers and defeated the Mughals and then challenged the British.
Sharad Pawar has all the typical qualities of the Maratha rulers. When necessary, Sharad Pawar hides, When convenient, Sharad Pawar fights. He calculates every move and also factors in the cost of defeat.
In 1978, Pawar shocked the Congress Govt. in Maharashtra by defecting and forming a government at age of 37. Then he rejoined Congress during Rajiv Gandhi’s time and again left in 1999.
Pawar will do anything to win and does not bother about ideology. The motive behind the June 22, 2021 meeting of Pawar is to send a signal to Congress and to all political parties that he is ready to lead.
1.If Pawar finds that the wind is against him, he will withdraw. If Pawar finds the wind is favorable, then he will go all out to win the Prime Minister’s job. like the Maratha rulers 200 years ago. The biggest loser in Sharad Pawar’s move is Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. This is a clear signal to Rahul Gandhi’s move out of the way. The meeting is also backed by Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee. These are 2 anti-Congress leaders s and hence Sharad Pawar has shown he has their support, while Rahul Gandhi does not.
2.But Sharad Pawar has not openly challenged Congress now. He simply calls it a meeting of prominent people and some politicians. If Pawar had called political parties, then it would be a direct clash with Congress Party. Pawar does not want to endanger the Maharashtra coalition where Congress is a member.
3.The BJP has to carefully watch Sharad Pawar. Unlike Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar is more experienced and more acceptable to regional parties. Definitely, Sharad Pawar is a bigger challenge because Sharad Pawar is acceptable and viewed as a mature leader in the country, who will protect the country.
There is still a lot of time. Normally Sharad Pawar waits till the last minute before he comes out in the open. But his hurry this time is unusual. Pawar is 81 years but extremely active and healthy. But maybe Pawar thought that if he waits, other leaders will emerge and occupy the opposition space. But Pawar has made Rahul Gandhi very nervous.
Just like Sharad Pawar would not like to make an enemy of the Congress, the Congress would not want to make an enemy of Sharad Pawar. It is like two lions circling each other, without starting the fight. Once the fight starts, both will be injured.
The Congress has been trying for the last week to shake the Maharashtra coalition to scare Sharad Pawar into not holding his meeting. But Sharad Pawar did not get scared. Will Congress withdraw from the Maharashtra government if Rahul is denied leadership of the Opposition? The defeat of BJP in Bengal has now led to Sharad Pawar’s emergence as a challenge to Rahul Gandhi.
Cunning, patience, and craftiness are big qualities of Maratha rulers in history. Sharad Pawar has them in abundance.
*Dr. Pullarao is a noted economist and political commentator, New Delhi