Maharashtra’s political landscape buzzes with anticipation. Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar will make a “significant announcement” at a press conference scheduled for 6:30 pm this Friday. This news follows reports of his abrupt exit from a state cabinet meeting, where he left just 10 minutes after it began. During that meeting, around 38 decisions were made.
Ajit Pawar leads the NCP, a key member of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which includes the BJP and Eknath Shinde‘s Shiv Sena. Importantly, his announcement coincides with ongoing seat-sharing discussions among coalition parties. These discussions are crucial as they prepare for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections set for November-December this year.
Notably, figures such as NCP‘s working president Praful Patel, state president Sunil Tatlare, and Chhagan Bhujbal are expected to join him at the press conference. According to the NCP, the announcement will focus on the upcoming elections. Consequently, this has sparked speculation about potential shifts in party alliances or the entry of prominent leaders.
Under Ajit Pawar‘s leadership, the NCP has faced significant scrutiny. This situation arises after the Mahayuti coalition‘s poor performance in the recent 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The results in Baramati, in particular, shocked Ajit, as his cousin Supriya Sule defeated his wife, Sunetra Pawar, by over 1.58 lakh votes.
Amid this turmoil, BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the challenges within the alliance. He stated, “It is true that BJP’s core voters disapproved of the alliance with the NCP, as we have been traditional rivals”. Nevertheless, he added that they have successfully communicated their position to 80 percent of their supporters.
Furthermore, Fadnavis highlighted that the BJP secured more seats than both Shinde‘s Shiv Sena (7) and Ajit Pawar‘s NCP (1).
As the seat-sharing negotiations progress, rumors suggest that the BJP and Shiv Sena may sideline the NCP. This development raises questions about the NCP‘s future role in the coalition. Additionally, this situation follows Ajit Pawar‘s controversial decision to rebel against his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and join the BJP in July 2023. Subsequently, he became Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena government.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes will be on Ajit Pawar‘s announcement. Will it clarify the NCP’s position in the coalition? Moreover, could it signal changes in the party’s strategy for the upcoming elections?
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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