Ahmed’s nomination aligns with Sharad Pawar NCP’s emphasis on youth leadership and grassroots activism
Team Clarion
MUMBAI — As Maharashtra Assembly elections near, political dynamics in the state are shifting regularly, with new faces coming into the spotlight. Actress Swara Bhaskar’s husband, Fahad Ahmed, who recently joined the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the Anushakti Nagar constituency in Mumbai. This decision marks a strategic move by the NCP to strengthen its influence in Maharashtra.
Before joining the NCP, Fahad Ahmed held a prominent position in the Samajwadi Party (SP) as the Maharashtra state president of the Samajwadi Yojana Sabha, the youth wing of the party. His transition to the NCP, facilitated by SP leader Abu Azmi’s discussions with Sharad Pawar, underscores the close ties between the two parties, particularly regarding their shared socialist ideals.
NCP leader Jayant Patil expressed his confidence in Ahmed’s candidacy, highlighting his experience as a social activist. Patil noted, “Fahad Ahmed is an educated youth who has worked extensively across the country as an activist. People are eager to see such leaders take charge. We spoke with SP leaders and welcomed him to the NCP, offering him the ticket from the Anushakti Nagar Assembly constituency.”
Ahmed’s nomination aligns with NCP’s emphasis on youth leadership and grassroots activism, signalling the party’s focus on appealing to young, socially conscious voters.
Following his nomination, Ahmed spoke about the alignment between the Samajwadi Party and Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP. “The SP and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) are rooted in socialism, and both parties are like a family,” he remarked. “Leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad Pawar have shared a long-standing relationship, just as Supriya Sule and Akhilesh Yadav do today.” Ahmed also emphasised his belief that voters in Maharashtra are eager for a change in the state’s current governance.
Ahmed will face a significant challenge from NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction candidate, Sana Malik, who is also running for the Anushakti Nagar seat. This constituency race will be closely watched, as it highlights the divide within the NCP and reflects the changing political landscape in Maharashtra.
The Samajwadi Party recently decided to contest at least 20 seats independently in the Maharashtra elections due to a breakdown in seat-sharing negotiations with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. This move, including supporting Fahad Ahmed’s candidacy through the NCP, underscores the complex alliances and ongoing power shifts as Maharashtra gears up for the elections.
