NCP Leader Ajit Pawar Joins Eknath Shinde-Led Maharashtra Government

In a major development, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, on July 2.

Pawar and other rebel NCP leaders expressed their belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been leading the country forward for the past nine years.

Addressing the press conference on Sunday, Pawar stated, "The Prime Minister is taking India forward. He is also popular in other countries. Everyone appreciates his leadership. We will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections with the BJP, and that is why we have taken this decision." He further emphasized their commitment to the progress of Maharashtra and the satisfaction of most NCP MLAs with this decision.

Asserting his control over the party, Ajit Pawar proclaimed that he and other MLAs who joined the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance represent the true NCP. "I will fight for the party name and symbol," he added, indicating his determination to protect the party's identity.

Ajit Pawar also criticized opposition parties, accusing them of lacking interest in advancing the country. Reports had surfaced earlier regarding NCP leaders' discontent with party chief Sharad Pawar's unilateral decision to ally with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Opposition unity meeting in Patna.

On Sunday, Ajit Pawar met with several party leaders and MLAs at his official residence in Mumbai before proceeding to Raj Bhawan, where he was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The ceremony took place in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Governor Ramesh Bais, and supporters of the Shinde faction and the BJP.

This development recalls the events of November 2019 when, following the Assembly polls and the split between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were briefly sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, respectively. However, their government lasted only 80 hours as Pawar failed to secure a split within his party.

 

Within a month, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister after the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Last year in June, the MVA government collapsed after Minister Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs revolted against Thackeray, leading to a split in the Shiv Sena. Shinde was then sworn in as the Chief Minister with the support of the BJP, while Fadnavis assumed the role of Deputy CM.

 

The upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra are expected to take place around October next year, a few months after the Lok Sabha elections.

 

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