# BJP Eyes Alliance With Sharad Pawar After Nagpur Setback

> Facing unexpected losses in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections and strong opposition protests nationally, the BJP is strategizing to rebuild political ties with veteran leader Sharad Pawar to pass key legislation and counter the Congress.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Politics · **Published:** 2026-11-08 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/politics/nagapura-men-karari-hara-ke-bada-sharada-pavara-ko-apane-pale-men-lane-ki-taiyari-men-juti-bhajapa-57824 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Sharad Pawar, BJP, Nagpur elections, Maharashtra politics, NCP, Legislative Council, women's reservation, Parliament

Amid recent losses in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections and fierce opposition aggression regarding the Election Commission in national politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to make a major political move. The party is actively working to bring back veteran leader and veteran strategist of Maharashtra politics, Sharad Pawar, into its fold. The party is pursuing a strategy to secure parliamentary approval for pending bills related to women's reservation and delimitation. Due to this objective, the party is attempting to facilitate a merger of both factions of the NCP and bring the Lok Sabha MPs of the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction over to its side.

## Two Major Reasons Behind the Strategy
According to reports, there are two primary motives driving this new BJP strategy. First, to gather the necessary support in Parliament to successfully pass bills concerning women's reservation and delimitation. Second, to counter the rising political influence of the Congress in Maharashtra by forging alliances with regional parties. Sharad Pawar could prove instrumental for the BJP on both fronts. BJP strategists have their eyes set on the eight Lok Sabha members of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) faction. The party believes that the support of these MPs could prove decisive in the arithmetic required for passing crucial legislation. This is precisely why the BJP is now looking for paths to dialogue with regional parties, pushing ideological differences aside.

## The Parliamentary Numbers Game
In practice, passing such bills in the Lok Sabha requires a minimum two-thirds majority support. During a special session of Parliament earlier this year, the bill received support from 298 MPs while 230 opposed it. In the absence of a two-thirds majority, the bill could not be passed. Consequently, the government has already brought several MPs from the TMC and the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena into the NDA camp. Its sights are now set on the Sharad faction of the NCP and MPs from other smaller regional groups.

## Modi's Phone Call and Amit Shah's Meeting
Signs of warming political ties between the BJP and Sharad Pawar have emerged from two recent events. Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned a hospitalized Sharad Pawar to inquire about his health. Reports indicated that the Prime Minister also advised him to take adequate rest. On the other front, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with a delegation of NCP leaders in New Delhi. This cannot be dismissed as mere courtesy. Discussions regarding changing political equations between the BJP and the NCP in Maharashtra have been circulating for some time. These incidents have further fueled speculation about a potential merger between the two factions of the NCP.

## Focus on Regional Parties to Corner Congress
A major objective behind this BJP maneuver is to politically corner the Congress. For some time, the Congress has launched relentless attacks regarding the Election Commission, the special intensive revision of electoral rolls known as SIR, and alleged vote theft. This opposition campaign has turned the role of the Election Commission into a major issue in national politics.

The BJP has attempted to respond through campaigns like Save Democracy against the Congress. However, this has not been deemed sufficient. Regional parties must be brought along. Sharad Pawar's political grip in Maharashtra becomes significant for precisely this reason. His extensive political experience in the state and contacts with leaders across various parties could prove useful for the BJP. The party feels that better coordination with regional parties will help limit the political influence of the Congress.

## Why Did the Nagpur Defeat Shock the BJP?
The Maharashtra Legislative Council elections for five seats have heightened concerns for the BJP and its allies. In these elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi won three seats, while the ruling Mahayuti secured two. The BJP suffered its biggest blow in Nagpur. This is the home turf of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is also located here.

In the Nagpur Graduates' constituency, sitting Congress MLC Abhijit Vanjari defeated Sudhakar Kohle of the BJP. Vanjari secured 67,231 votes, whereas the BJP candidate received 63,960 votes. Consequently, the BJP faced defeat by a margin of roughly 3,271 votes.

On the other hand, Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) registered victories in the graduate constituencies of Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Both victories demonstrated that Sharad Pawar's political grip in Maharashtra is far from extinguished.

How Difficult Is It to Woo Sharad Pawar?

Sharad Pawar is widely referred to as the Chanakya of Maharashtra politics. This is due not only to his extensive political experience but also to his capacity to sustain his role amidst shifting political equations. He has been allied with the Congress, founded his own party, and engaged in political battles with the BJP and the Shiv Sena across different eras. The primary challenge before the BJP is that in attempting to court Pawar, it must also navigate the internal equations within both factions of the NCP. Some party leaders believe that senior leaders within the NCP experience anxiety regarding their roles within the organization and their political futures. Prior to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, they may seek a stable leadership and political home.

However, predicting Sharad Pawar's next move is far from simple. He cannot entirely disregard the prospects of opposition unity alongside the Congress. Conversely, the BJP possesses the arithmetic of power and parliamentary backing.

## What this means for you
This political realignment in Maharashtra will carry direct implications for ordinary citizens and the state's legislative landscape.

- **Across India:** The path may clear for passing major legislation such as women's reservation and delimitation in Parliament, bringing structural changes nationwide. Support from regional factions could bolster central policy execution at the national level.
- **In Maharashtra:** Political equations in regions like Nagpur and Pune will shift rapidly, increasing the leverage of regional leaders in governance. Voters across these areas may encounter new political alignments ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

## Why this happened
The BJP shifted its strategy in response to unexpected setbacks in Council elections and shortfalls in legislative numbers.

- **Parliamentary Shortfall:** Passing crucial legislation like women's reservation and delimitation requires a two-thirds majority, which the ruling coalition lacked during earlier special sessions.
- **Nagpur Electoral Defeat:** Losing in Nagpur, the home turf of senior leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Nitin Gadkari as well as the RSS headquarters, forced the party to seek alternatives against opposition unity.
- **Rising Congress Influence:** Countering the aggressive stance adopted by the Congress over the Election Commission and voter rolls necessitated bringing regional heavyweights on board.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why is the BJP trying to reach out to Sharad Pawar?
The BJP wants to gather necessary support to pass women's reservation and delimitation bills in Parliament and counter the influence of the Congress in Maharashtra.

### 2. Who lost the Nagpur Legislative Council election?
BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohle lost the Nagpur Graduates' constituency election to Congress candidate Abhijit Vanjari.

### 3. How much support is required to pass bills in Parliament?
Passing such special bills in the Lok Sabha requires a minimum two-thirds majority support.

### 4. Which top leaders recently contacted Sharad Pawar?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned a hospitalized Sharad Pawar, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with NCP leaders in Delhi.

### 5. How many seats did the Maha Vikas Aghadi win in the Council elections?
Out of the five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats contested, the Maha Vikas Aghadi won three seats.

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