RSS-linked weekly blames alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP for BJP's poor show in LS polls

Mumbai: In what was another blow to NCP chief Ajit Pawar, an RSS Marathi weekly 'Vivek' blamed the party (NCP) for being one of the reasons behind the BJP's poor performance in Maharashtra in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

The article in 'Vivek' comes weeks after RSS stalwart Ratan Sharda, in an opinion piece titled “Modi 3.0: Conversation for course correction” published in 'Organiser',  had hit out at the NCP for BJP’s poor performance, questioning the alliance and Ajit Pawar’s induction into the Maha Yuti government as Deputy Chief Minister. 

Now, the article in 'Vivek', titled 'Karyakarta khachlela nahi, tar sambhramat' (Worker is not discouraged, but confused), penned by Nimesh Vahalkar, has blamed the NCP for the BJP’s drubbing in Maharashtra, which consists of 48 Lok Sabha seats. 

The two back-to-back opinion pieces indicate the current relationship of the BJP with its ideological parent RSS. 

The 'Vivek' article states that party workers are criticising BJP's alliance with the NCP in regards to the saffron party's performance in the Lok Sabha polls. “It's clear that BJP workers did not favour the alliance with the NCP. The BJP leadership is aware of the sentiments”, the article states.

It points out that while the party cadres disapprove of BJP's relationship with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, they have accepted the alliance with Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, who now heads the Shiv Sena. 

The NCP has not yet reacted to the 'Vivek' article.

Speaking on reports of the BJP cadres being unhappy with Ajit Pawar’s inclusion in the Maha Yuti, Sharad Pawar said, “I read that the RSS’ 'Vivek' weekly has said that the BJP is upset with Ajit Pawar’s inclusion in the Maha Yuti. I read something similar in the Organiser. This means there is unease in the constituent parties of the Maha Yuti.” 

However, NCP (SP) Baramati MP and Working President Supriya Sule hit out at the party, now controlled by her cousin Ajit Pawar, for allying with BJP around a year ago.

“The opinion came in the 'Organiser' and after that 'Vivek' has carried this story again... You should ask this question to the BJP and the RSS, how can I answer? It's their internal issue,” she said while asked about the issue.

Of the 48 seats in the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led Maha Yuti (NDA) won 17 seats as opposed to the 31 won by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (I.N.D.I.A.).

From Maha Yuti, the BJP had contested in 28 seats, winning 9; Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena fielded 15 candidates and won 7; while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fought 4, winning just 1 seat. One seat was allotted to ally Rashtriya Samaj Paksha president Mahadev Jankar, who lost.

The article comes at a time when the BJP is working on a seat sharing deal with Shinde and Ajit Pawar for the forthcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls.