Sharad Pawar will not make such an unexpected decision at the end of his life, abandoning the principles he upheld throughout his lifetime

Raj Ki Baat | December 15 | By Rajendra Devdhe, Special Correspondent

On December 2nd in Supa and December 11th in Kharda, Member of Parliament Nilesh Lanke and MLA Rohit Pawar hinted at “sweet announcements” to be made soon. Lanke suggested it might take a month, while Pawar indicated a timeline of 10-12 days. These statements from two responsible representatives have sparked various discussions among the public.

On December 12th, Sharad Pawar celebrated his birthday in New Delhi. Reports emerged that some leaders from Ajit Pawar’s group met Sharad Pawar behind closed doors, leading to speculation about the possible merger of Sharad Pawar’s faction with Ajit Pawar’s faction. This naturally caught the public’s attention, as politics is a favorite topic of conversation among Maharashtrians. Analysts and YouTubers have also weighed in on this development.

The key topic of discussion, however, is the growing speculation that Sharad Pawar is planning to retire from active politics soon. This forms the core of all the rumors, as without Sharad Pawar’s retirement, other speculations lack foundation. The most talked-about assumption is that Pawar’s faction would merge with Ajit Pawar’s and subsequently align with the central government.

However, if Sharad Pawar’s faction were to align with Ajit Pawar’s and participate in the central government, this move could only happen if Sharad Pawar retires. It seems highly unlikely that Pawar would abandon the principles he upheld throughout his life to make such an unpredictable decision towards the end. The quote, “Much has passed; only a little remains—why spoil it now?” seems particularly apt for him. Despite mounting pressure from colleagues, as long as Sharad Pawar remains active in politics, such drastic steps are improbable.

Sharad Pawar is one of those rare leaders who became a legend in their lifetime. If the “sweet news” hinted at by Lanke and Pawar pertains to joining forces with the BJP, then Sharad Pawar’s retirement becomes inevitable. Judging by their tone and approach, something significant is indeed brewing.

What Could Happen Next?

After the assembly results, if Sharad Pawar, as the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar Group), feels helpless and sees power as the only solution, two scenarios are possible:

1. Sharad Pawar’s faction merges with Ajit Pawar’s faction to join power at both the central and state levels.

2. Sharad Pawar’s faction bypasses any merger and directly participates in the government.

However, either scenario would be contingent upon Sharad Pawar’s retirement.