June 5th 2024.
On a sunny Wednesday morning, Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), embarked on a journey to Delhi. His destination? A crucial meeting of the INDIA bloc. This gathering comes on the heels of a significant victory for the opposition alliance in the Lok Sabha polls, which did not yield the sweeping triumph that the BJP-led NDA had hoped for.
According to sources, Pawar was expected to arrive in Delhi at noon. At the ripe age of 83, the former Union minister is set to play a pivotal role in determining the next steps for the united opposition alliance. As the results of the Lok Sabha elections reveal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party are on track to secure a third consecutive term, Pawar's presence and influence are more crucial than ever.
Despite suffering losses in three Hindi heartland states, Modi and the BJP have still managed to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha. However, the party will need the support of its allies in the NDA to form a government, as they fell short of the 272-seat majority mark. This is a far cry from the BJP's previous victories in 2019 and 2014, where they won 303 and 282 seats respectively, giving them a majority on their own.
In light of these results, Sharad Pawar wasted no time in expressing his thoughts. He stated that the election outcomes indicate a favorable climate for political change in the country, and the next course of action will be decided in consultation with all allies. It is worth noting that Pawar's party, the NCP, contested in 10 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and secured a commendable eight seats.
When asked who the next Prime Minister would be, Pawar humbly replied that they have not given it much thought. He also mentioned that he is uncertain if the INDIA alliance can form a government, and a unanimous decision will be made during their meeting in Delhi. Pawar also took the opportunity to highlight the impressive performance of his party and the Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha elections.
Encouraged by the INDIA bloc's success in the Lok Sabha polls, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray expressed his desire to stake a claim to form the next government at the Centre. He also revealed that the leaders of the opposition alliance will gather in Delhi on Wednesday to decide on the next Prime Minister. Thackeray added that discussions were ongoing with the Congress and other parties to explore the possibility of their entry into the bloc. This includes talks with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telegu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu, who are currently part of the BJP-led NDA, which is expected to form the next government in the 543-member House.
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