The split between the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) seems to have worked better for the latter, even though it was under attack for corruption charges from all political parties during the assembly campaign.
The NCP is leading in almost the same number of seats as the Congress, which was the senior partner in the 15 year old alliance.Trends in the counting of votes from the Election Commission of India showed the Congress leading in 46 and the NCP leading in 45 seats.
In fact, the trends justify the NCP’s demand for half the assembly seats from the Congress. The demand was rejected and was one of the triggers for the split. After the allies parted ways, Congress leaders believed their party would perform much better since they would shed the taint of corruption charges including the irrigation scam which engulfed NCP leaders including former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The bulk of NCP seats could come from its bastion in the sugar belt of Western Maharashtra where the party is leading in 20 seats. This despite the BJP targeting this belt and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself campaigning in NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s pocketborough, Baramati.
The BJP’s ally the Swabhimaani Shetkari Paksha is also strongest in Western Maharashtra and was expected to make a dent in the NCP’s fortunes.
The NCP leadership of traditional satraps from the sugar belt who control virtual fiefdoms seems here to have paid off. NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and R R Patil were all leading from their constitutencies in Western Maharashtra.
