NCP leader Ajit Pawar does an Eknath Shinde, takes oath as Maharashtra deputy CM

Mumbai: Maharashtra yet again witnessed a political earthquake as senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday joined the Eknath Shinde government as a deputy chief minister. The dramatic development could spell trouble for his uncle and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, as Ajit has also staked claim over the party and the symbol as well.

Eight NCP legislators were also sworn in as ministers at the ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Ajit, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha, said that all party MLAs and MPs are with him and that it is time for the party to get a new leadership. There are reports that 36 of the 53 NCP MLAs are supporting him.

When asked about the number of MLAs with him, Ajit said he has the backing of all MLAs. He even claimed that he took the decision with the blessings of the "party seniors". As per a letter given to the Raj Bhavan, 40 MLAs and six MLCs have supported Ajit.

"The NCP was formed in 1999. A lot of things have happened in the last 24 years. Now the time has come for the new leadership in the party," Ajit said.

Chhagan Bhujbal, who was also sworn in as a minister with Ajit, said that the NCP chief had told them Mr Modi will be reelected as the PM in 2024. "Pawar saheb himself said that Mr Modi is coming back as the Prime Minister and as a positive gesture, we have decided to come with this government for development. We have criticised the PM in the past, but there is no denial of the good work he has done in the past nine years."

Ajit was reportedly upset with the party leadership after Mr Pawar had anointed his daughter Supriya Sule and close aide Praful Patel as the working presidents of the organisation. However, he had dismissed the possibility of quitting the party, saying he was ready to give it in writing on stamp-paper about it.

Interestingly, Mr Patel was also present at Raj Bhavan when Ajit was sworn in as the deputy CM by governor Ramesh Bais. Other NCP leaders, including Mr Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmarao Atram, Anil Patil and Sanjay Bansode, also took the oath as ministers.

Ajit, Mr Patel, Mr Bhujbal and Mr Mushrif all have pending Enforcement Directorate cases against them. Months ago, the ED had attached several floors of a prime property belonging to Mr Patel in Mumbai. In April, Mr Mushrif received a protection from arrest by the Bombay high court in a money laundering case filed against him by the ED.

After being sworn in as a deputy CM, Ajit said, "Today, we have decided to support the Maharashtra government and took oath as ministers. There will be a discussion on the portfolios later. Considering all aspects at the national level, we thought that we should support development."

He claimed his decision was in support of the work done by the Prime Minister in the past nine years. "Seeing his (Mr Modi’s) work, we consider it important that we too support his effort," Ajit said.

"Overall and comprehensive development was taken into account. We have a vast experience of the administration and we can utilise it for good," the deputy chief minister added.

Maintaining that there was no split in the NCP, Ajit said they will contest all future elections on the NCP’s name and symbol. "All the elected representatives (of the party) have supported the decision to join the government," he claimed.

Defending his decision to join hands with the BJP, Ajit said, "If we can go with the Shiv Sena, then we can go with the BJP as well. Previously, seven NCP MLAs in Nagaland went with the BJP on the party’s decision. If we can go with the BJP in Nagaland, then why can’t we go with the BJP in Maharashtra? We will do everything for the betterment of the state."

This is the fifth time that Ajit Pawar has become the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. Of the five, three have been in the current legislative Assembly. He first became a deputy CM under Devendra Fadnavis’ government in 2019 and then under Uddhav Thackeray and now Eknath Shinde.

Ajit’s joining hands with the BJP came exactly a year after Shinde broke away from the Shiv Sena along with 39 party MLAs, which resulted in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Shinde later became CM with the support of the BJP.

Meanwhile, the NCP has appointed Jitendra Awhad as the new Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. Mr Ahwad, an MLA from Thane district is known for his loyalty to Mr Pawar and Ms Sule.

Reacting to the development, chief minister Eknath Shinde said Maharashtra will now sprint forward with one chief minister and two deputy chief ministers. "Now the double engine has become a triple engine. I welcome Ajit Pawar and other leaders who have decided to come along," he said.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that the alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP is still on. "There won't be any effect on the Congress, there is no question about that... We’re still in Opposition, our alliance with Uddhav Thackeray Faction and the NCP is still on," he said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of all leaders on Monday. He has invited all MLAs, MPs, leaders and deputy leaders in the state to attend the meeting, to be held at Shiv Sena Bhavan on Monday.