The MVA’s debilitating loss and within that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)'s poor performance raises a question: What is the party's future considering he is at a ripe age of 83 years?

Ajit Pawar, previously Deputy Chief Minister, now leads NCP's Legislative Party. He aims for Maharashtra's top job, organizing a meeting with newly elected MLAs. Final decision on the Chief Minister role will involve discussions with BJP's top officials in Delhi.

In the contest between the two rival NCP factions in the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Ajit Pawar-led party defeated the outfit headed by his uncle Sharad Pawar on 29 seats.

Following the Mahayuti alliance's victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, speculation is swirling around the next chief minister. While NCP leaders hinted at the possibility of Ajit Pawar taking the helm,

Ajit Pawar defeated his nephew Yugendra Pawar, who was endorsed by 83-year-old Sharad Pawar, by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.

Marking a sharp turnaround from the party’s Lok Sabha performance, Ajit Pawar’s faction won 41 out of total 59 seats it contested.

Sharad Pawar’s faction may have garnered a higher vote share at 11.29 percent compared to Ajit Pawar’s 9.01 percent, but this support didn’t translate into seats.