Since Ajit Pawar assumed the role of Finance Minister, the six MLAs aligned with Sharad Pawar’s faction have seen no funds allocated to them, post the party’s split. While several NCP MLAs who sided with Sharad Pawar are experiencing tightened budget allocations, one MLA claiming allegiance to Sharad Pawar has received the highest funding over the past three months. There’s speculation that this particular MLA may soon switch camps, with an announcement anticipated after the upcoming cabinet expansion.
Banner politics take a new twist
Breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena and NCP are engaging in banner politics with a fresh twist. In an unusual move, CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s Ramdas Kadam has prominently displayed photographs of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on banners. Meanwhile, NCP’s Ajit Pawar group has substituted Sharad Pawar with his political mentor, Yashvantrao Chavan, on their banners, as Sharad Pawar prohibited the use of his images by the Ajit Pawar faction. Kadam’s display of Fadnavis’s pictures has raised eyebrows within Shiv Sena, sparking speculation that Kadam might be considering a switch to the BJP, possibly for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Wooing voters across aisle
In a bid to secure the votes of the Muslim community, which may be less inclined to support them, the NDA is contemplating offering a seat in Mumbai, with a significant Muslim population, to the Ajit Pawar group. A senior Congress leader and former MP from Mumbai recently held discussions with Ajit Pawar and is contemplating a shift to the other side. This leader, with a history in the Congress, is now considering the NDA’s offer.
