Sharad Pawar, known as Chanakya in Maharashtra politics, grew in stature in politics after 1970. He was earlier involved in Congress and in the year 1975 he got the post of Maharashtra Cabinet. But when Congress broke, Sharad Pawar turned against Indira Gandhi. In 1978, Sharad Pawar became the Chief Minister in the coalition government at the age of just 37. However, this government could not complete its tenure. But by the year 1986, Sharad Pawar became one of the most influential leaders of politics.
Formation of NCP
Sharad Pawar remained associated with Congress till 1999, but tension started arising between him and the party. When Rajiv Gandhi died in a terrorist attack, Sharad Pawar openly expressed his aspirations for the post of Prime Minister. But when another leader got the post of PM in place of Sharad Pawar, Sharad Pawar rebelled against Sonia Gandhi and formed NCP on 10 June 1999.
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Along with Sharad Pawar, Tariq Ahmed and PA Sangma were also involved in this rebellion. Maharashtra Assembly elections were held in the same year and this was NCP’s first election. NCP fielded its candidates on 223 out of 288 seats in the state, out of which NCP won 58 seats.
However, now there is a split in NCP too, after Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar rebelled, Sharad Pawar formed a new party. Now Sharad Pawar’s party is known as Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchand Pawar).
