Maharashtra NCP split: Ajit Pawar sworn in as deputy CM, joins BJP-led govt with 29 MLAs

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party has witnessed a dramatic split after Ajit Pawar backed by 29 MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Pawar took oath as deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra at an event held in the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday.

The presence of NCP president Sharad Pawar and party's working president Supriya Sule at the Opposition meeting in Patna had irked Ajit Pawar and his supporters, sources said.

Ajit Pawar was sworn in as the deputy chief minister by Governor Ramesh Bais at the ceremony held in the Raj Bhavan. Subsequently, eight NCP MLAs took oath and joined the cabinet. Those who were sworn in as ministers are Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmarao Atram, Anil Patil and Sanjay Bansode.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who was present in the Raj Bhavan, said Ajit Pawar has resigned as the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Lower House and he has accepted it.

Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and NCP working president Praful Patel were also present in the Raj Bhavan.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed 40 MLAs of NCP (out of the total 53) have supported the state government.

Elections to the 288-member state Assembly are due next year.

The political development comes a year after a revolt led by Shinde against the Shiv Sena (then undivided) led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

On June 30, 2022, Shinde was sworn as the CM with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis as the deputy CM.

BJP's Mumbai unit president and former state minister Ashish Shelar said, CM Eknath Shinde gave supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save Hindutva. "Today, NCP's major faction led by Ajit Pawar is joining the Shinde and Fadnavis government in a democratic way and extending support to Modiji."

Speculation on NCP split made headlines after Ajit Pawar on Sunday met some party leaders and MLAs at his official residence in Mumbai. Later, they headed to the Raj Bhavan to break the suspense on the party split.

The MLAs who back Ajit Pawar were “upset” with NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s “unilateral” decision to share stage and ally with Rahul Gandhi at the opposition unity meet in Patna, say sources. 

NCP president Sharad Pawar, who was in Pune, said he was unaware of the meeting, but added that Ajit Pawar, as leader of opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Assembly, can call a meeting of legislators.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of Ajit Pawar recently saying he was not keen on continuing as the LoP and wanted to work in the party organisation.

Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and party's working president Supriya Sule were among the leaders present at the meeting held at Ajit Pawar's official residence 'Devgiri', while state party president Jayant Patil was not present. Some MLAs were also present in the meeting.

(With agency inputs)