Pawar, Uddhav emerge as biggest winners in Maharashtra

Mumbai: While the Congress has emerged as the most successful party among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents, it is the NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, who have proved to be real heroes for the opposition alliance’s impressive show in Maharashtra.

With their backs to the wall following splits in their respective parties, both the leaders refused to throw in the towel. In the scorching heat, they campaigned extensively across the state despite their health issues and contributed handsomely to the MVA’s win in the Lok Sabha polls.

With their stellar performance, Sharad Pawar and Thackeray have also proved that they enjoy more confidence among their party supporters than Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, who had effected splits in the NCP and Shiv Sena.

Though Sharad Pawar and Thackeray saw their parties split, symbols snatched away and names changed, they fought on gamely and demonstrated that they lead “the real NCP and the real Shiv Sena.”

Both Sharad Pawar and Thackeray would be mightily pleased by keeping their stranglehold intact on their bastions – Baramati and Mumbai.

As his daughter Supriya Sule registered a comprehensive win in Baramati, the senior Pawar dealt a huge blow to the aspirations of his cousin Ajit Pawar, who had fielded his wife Sunetra in the constituency, which is known as a Pawar fiefdom.

In Mumbai, Thackeray’s Shiv Sena won four out of six seats, which could prove to be a decisive factor in the polls of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which are likely to be held next year.

Sharad Pawar gave credit to the unity among the all three MVA partners. He said that the INDIA bloc has posed a major challenge to the BJP at the national level and now he will work towards bringing change in Maharashtra.

“This is the success of my party workers, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT). We as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) fought unitedly, hence got the highest number of seats. Our strike rate is better,” the former Union minister said.

Pawar described the results in Maharashtra as a ‘harbinger of change.’ “The Lok Sabha election results showed the situation was favourable in the country for political change. The INDIA bloc leaders are likely to meet in Delhi on Wednesday to decide the future course of action,” he said.

The veteran leader, however, also said that the opposition bloc was not likely to form a government at the Centre. He also denied having spoken with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.

“I have not called up Chandrababu Naidu… Whatever is the outcome, after discussing with colleagues in the other INDIA allies, we shall share it publicly tomorrow,” Pawar said.