In a significant move following the recent Lok Sabha elections, NCP chief Sharad Pawar left for Delhi on Wednesday morning to attend a crucial meeting of the INDIA bloc. This comes on the heels of impressive gains by the opposition alliance, while the BJP-led NDA fell short of the landslide victory it had anticipated.
Pawar, a seasoned political strategist, is expected to reach Delhi around noon, sources report. At 83, the former Union Minister remains a pivotal figure in shaping the future direction of the opposition alliance.
Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a third consecutive term with the NDA achieving a majority, the BJP’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections marked a decline. Winning 240 seats, the party fell short of the 272-seat majority mark and will need to rely on its NDA allies to form the government. This is a notable decrease from the 303 and 282 seats the BJP secured in 2019 and 2014, respectively.
As the election results became clear on Tuesday afternoon, Pawar commented on the favorable conditions for political change in India. He emphasized that the opposition’s future course of action would be decided through unanimous consultations with all allies.
The NCP, under Pawar’s leadership, contested 10 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, securing victories in eight. However, Pawar was candid about the opposition bloc’s chances of forming a government, stating that they had not yet considered a prime ministerial candidate and expressing uncertainty about their ability to form the next government.
Uddhav Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena (UBT), buoyed by the INDIA bloc’s performance, advocated for the alliance to stake a claim to form the next government. He announced that opposition leaders would meet in New Delhi to deliberate on the prime ministerial candidate. Thackeray also mentioned ongoing discussions with Congress leaders and other parties, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and TDP head Chandrababu Naidu, exploring their potential entry into the bloc.
The Kumar-led JD(U) and the TDP are currently constituents of the BJP-headed NDA, which is set to form the government in the 543-member House.
As these developments unfold, Sharad Pawar’s role in Delhi will be crucial in determining the opposition’s strategy and its impact on India’s political landscape.