The question occupying Maharashtra: What will Ajit Pawar do next?

At the review meeting held by NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday to discuss the party’s Lok Sabha poll performance, winning just one seat, five of his 41 MLAs were absent. Narhari Zirwal is said to be abroad, and four reported to be unwell. Ajit, on his part, skipped the meeting in Delhi on Wednesday of NDA partners, where they affirmed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

The developments are set to add to the speculation around the fate – and plans – of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, after Sharad Pawar again stole a march over his nephew by leading his party to eight seats out of the 10 it contested. Ajit’s NCP, on the other hand, contested four seats and won only Raigad. Among the constituencies it lost was Baramati, where Ajit’s wife Sunetra was pitted against Sharad Pawar’s daughter and sitting MP Supriya Sule.

Given Ajit’s flip-flops concerning Sharad Pawar earlier – including several near-rebellions – the foremost chatter is that the nephew may be looking to stage another return. Alternatively, a substantial number of his MLAs may be looking to do so.

What is clear is that Ajit is left with few bargaining chips. Inthe Mahayuti vs Maha Vikas Aghadi contest involving six big parties in Maharashtra, Ajit’s NCP fared the worst – winning 1 seat and 3.6% votes.

While it contested the least number of constituencies compared to the others, the gap between it and Sharad Pawar’s NCP that contested 10 seats is a glaring 7%. Plus, it will be weighing on his MLAs that, going by the Lok Sabha results, they might end up on the losing side in the Assembly polls at the end of this year.

The failure in Baramati – where the BJP too had thrown in its all – will also lower Ajit’s stock with the national party. Sources said a win may