Patna:
When Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took oath for the tenth time in November 2025, among the prominent leaders present at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan was Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar. Congratulating Nitish Kumar on the occasion, Pawar had described the moment as “a matter of great honour,” calling the NDA’s victory in Bihar historic.
He had said that the people of Bihar had reposed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar — a verdict that, according to him, the entire nation had witnessed.
Ajit Pawar’s Strong Political Connect with Patna
Ajit Pawar’s political journey shared a significant connection with Bihar. In July 2023, Patna hosted the crucial opposition meeting aimed at forming the INDIA alliance. NCP founder Sharad Pawar attended the meeting alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
However, this decision triggered unease within the NCP. Several party leaders felt that Sharad Pawar’s participation strengthened Rahul Gandhi politically and reduced NCP’s independent identity. Senior leaders openly questioned why a veteran leader like Sharad Pawar should appear to operate under Congress leadership. Chhagan Bhujbal was among the strongest critics of the move.
Discontent That Led to NCP’s Split
Ajit Pawar capitalised on the growing dissatisfaction within the party. Rallying disgruntled MLAs, he led a vertical split in the NCP. Out of 54 legislators, 40 aligned with Ajit Pawar, weakening Sharad Pawar’s faction considerably.
Political analysts believe the Patna opposition meeting became a turning point that accelerated the NCP’s division. From that moment, the Ajit Pawar-led faction emerged as a powerful force in Maharashtra politics.
Ajit Pawar’s Admiration for Nitish Kumar
Ajit Pawar was known to admire Nitish Kumar’s political pragmatism. Speaking at the NCP foundation day event in June 2024, Pawar remarked that for NDA allies, securing cabinet positions at the Centre was less important than safeguarding their respective states’ interests.
He cited Nitish Kumar’s approach as an example — pointing out how the Bihar Chief Minister had avoided ministerial politics at the Centre and instead focused on securing special financial packages for Bihar’s development.
PM Modi’s Offer and Ajit Pawar’s Decision
After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP managed to win only one seat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the party to join the Union Council of Ministers. However, as the offer was limited to a Minister of State position, Ajit Pawar declined the proposal.
Political observers noted that this decision closely mirrored Nitish Kumar’s earlier stance.
The 2019 Parallel: Nitish Kumar’s Defining Stand
Following the NDA’s landslide victory in the 2019 general elections, the Janata Dal (United) sought four cabinet berths, having won 16 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar — nearly equal to the BJP’s tally of 17.
However, when the BJP offered only one ministerial position to JD(U), Nitish Kumar refused to join the Union Cabinet. He argued that such an arrangement would send a wrong message to the people of Bihar, as the BJP secured five ministerial posts with 17 MPs while JD(U) would get only one despite winning 16 seats.
JD(U) stayed out of the Modi Cabinet for nearly three years. This firm and principled stand later earned widespread respect across political lines.
A Political Lesson That Left an Impact
Ajit Pawar openly acknowledged that Nitish Kumar’s decision in 2019 represented political maturity — prioritising state dignity and public perception over power at the Centre.
It was this bold stand, rooted in political self-respect rather than opportunism, that Ajit Pawar repeatedly cited as an example of strategic leadership — a move before which even seasoned politicians acknowledged Nitish Kumar’s resolve.
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