With Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar skipping campaigning during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election, speculation is rife about the rebel NCP faction being in turmoil.
Mr. Ajit, who canvassed vigorously in the third phase and went through the motions in phase four, has remained conspicuously absent from campaigning for his allies – the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena -- in the last phase in which 14 Lok Sabha seats, mainly in Mumbai city and Thane, go to polls.
The NCP leader had even skipped Prime Minister Modi’s roadshow in Ghatkopar on May 15, triggering rumours about Mr. Ajit being allegedly upset at the way things had turned out for his party, which was only given four Lok Sabha seats to contest on. However, his absence since May 11 was ascribed by his aides to the NCP leader being ‘unwell’ and ‘suffering from a bad throat’.